Eros And The Poetry At The Courts Of Mary Queen Of Scots And James Vi

Annotation Eros and Poetry examines the erotics of literary desire at the Stewart court in Scotland during the reigns of Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI. Encompassing the period from the early 1560s to the late 1590s, this is the first study to link together Scottish Marian and Jacobean court literatures, presenting a relatively unknown body of writing, newly theorized and contextualized. It argues that in this period erotic poetry can only be considered in relation to the figure of the monarch, and that the formation of elite lyric culture takes place under the shaping influence of desire for, and against, the sovereign, and her or his 'passional' and symbolic powers Eros And Poetry At The Court Of Mary Queen Of Scots And James Vi Examines The Erotics Of Literary Desire At The Stewart Court In Scotland During The Reigns Of Mary Queen Of Scots And James Vi. Encompassing The Period From The Early 1560s To The Late 1590s, This Is The First Study To Link Together Scottish Marian And Jacobean Court Literature, Presenting A Relatively Unknown Body Of Writing, Newly Theorized And Contextualized. It Argues That In This Period Erotic Poetry Can Only Be Considered In Relation To The Figure Of The Monarch, And That The Formation Of Elite Lyric Culture Takes Place Under The Shaping Influence Of Desire For, And Against, The Sovereign, And Her Or His 'passional' And Symbolic Powers.--jacket. Introduction: Amorous Histories -- From Marian To Jacobean Eros -- Pt. 1. The Marian Period. 1. Feminine Eros: Mary Queen Of Scots And The Emergence Of Desire. 2. Demonic And Angelic Women: The Erotics Of Renunciation And Mariology In The Bannatyne Manuscript -- Pt. 2. The Jacobean Period. 3. Fables Of Eros: James Vi And The Revelation Of Desire. 4. Devotional Artefacts: John Stewart And The Eroticisation Of The Courtly. 5. Love's Altar: Alexander Montgomerie And The Erotics Of Representation. 6. Heretical Love-words: The Poetry Of William Fowler. Conclusion: Love's End. Sarah M. Dunnigan. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A Roman triumph was the procession of a victorious general through the city. The festivity combined religious thanksgiving, political legitimation, and carnival release. Early modern England, from the Armada period of the 1580s to the Cromwellian Protectorate in the 1650s, revived and appropriated the Roman model in a wide variety of forms. The result is a characteristic product of early modern culture." "English use of the triumph included ceremonies, stage performances, and poetic or pictorial representations. This book gives particular attention to the researches of humanist antiquarians, the vigorous tradition of pamphlet triumphs, and the literary or dramatic versions produced by Spenser, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Marvell and Milton, as well as by non-canonical writers. It discloses the ways in which all these texts are implicated in contemporary political conflicts and discourses. The book also discusses adaptations such as the subversive triumph of love, the paradoxical triumph of peace, and Christian triumphs of humility and patience."--Jacket "The advent of relatively cheap printed editions of verse in the mid-sixteenth century produced an explosion of verse, much of which represented the first-person speaker as a version of the author. This book examines the way in which writers, often seeking advancement in their careers, harnessed the powers of verse and print for self-promotional purposes. Close attention to the self-constructions of these writers reveals conflicts and contradictions in available models of the self, as well as doubts about the powers of verse to express the inner self. Texts studied include: an extraordinary manuscript autobiography by Thomas Whythorne; printed verse by a woman, Isabella Whitney; an erotic romance by George Gascoigne, hailed as the first 'novel' in English; little-known but memorable narratives of travel to Russia and Africa, and of the experience of war; and more canonical works by Spenser, Sidney and Shakespeare."--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction: Amorous Histories — from Marian to Jacobean Eros....Pages 1-12 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 Feminine Eros: Mary Queen of Scots and the Emergence of Desire....Pages 15-45 Demonic and Angelic Women: The Erotics of Renunciation and Mariology in the Bannatyne Manuscript....Pages 46-73 Front Matter....Pages 75-75 Fables of Eros: James VI and the Revelation of Desire....Pages 77-104 Devotional Artefacts: John Stewart and the Eroticisation of the Courtly....Pages 105-124 Love’s Altar: Alexander Montgomerie and the Erotics of Representation....Pages 125-148 Heretical Love-Words: The Poetry of William Fowler....Pages 149-163 Conclusion....Pages 165-169 Back Matter....Pages 171-219 Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Note on Texts and Abbreviations 11 Introduction: Amorous Histories – from Marian to Jacobean Eros 12 I The Marian Period 24 1 Feminine Eros: Mary Queen of Scots and the Emergence of Desire 25 2 Demonic and Angelic Women: The Erotics of Renunciation and Mariology in the Bannatyne Manuscript 56 Part II The Jacobean Period 84 3 Fables of Eros: James VI and the Revelation of Desire 85 4 Devotional Artefacts: John Stewart and the Eroticisation of the Courtly 113 5 Love’s Altar: Alexander Montgomerie and the Erotics of Representation 133 6 Heretical Love-Words: The Poetry of William Fowler 157 Conclusion: Love's End 172 Notes 176 Index 218