Sidney’s View on the Role and Function of Poetry
An Apology for Poetry is a notable literary work by Philip Sidney. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of An Apology for Poetry.
Answer
Show how Sidney argues that the function of a poet is to teach and delight.
Or, Comment on Sidney’s view on the role and function of poetry.
Philip Sidney (1554-1586), in his essay “An Apology for Poetry” (1595), defends poetry and explains its role and function in human life. Sidney argues the main purpose of poetry is to teach and delight. He believes that poetry is not just for fun but also plays a big role in shaping people’s minds and hearts. Sidney says:
“Poesy, therefore, is an art of imitation;… a speaking picture… to teach and delight.”
According to him, a good poet does two things:
- Teaches moral lessons (like a philosopher)
- Makes learning enjoyable (like a storyteller)
Sidney says that this special power of poetry makes it better than history and philosophy.
Poetry Teaches Moral Lessons: Sidney believes that poetry is a great teacher. It helps people understand virtue (goodness) and morality (right and wrong). But unlike philosophy—which teaches using difficult words and ideas—poetry makes learning simple and interesting. Sidney says:
“Whatsoever the philosopher saith should be done, [the poet] giveth a perfect picture of it.”
Philosophy teaches moral rules, but these rules are hard to understand and remember. History shows real events, but it does not always teach clear lessons—because sometimes bad people succeed and good people suffer. Poetry is better than both because it creates perfect examples of virtue through heroes and stories. People can learn what is right and wrong by reading about characters who show goodness, bravery, and wisdom.
For example, Aeneas (from Virgil’s “Aeneid”) teaches duty and responsibility. Hercules (from Greek mythology) shows strength and perseverance. These characters inspire readers to be good in real life. Sidney calls the poet—
“The right popular philosopher.”
Poetry Makes Learning Enjoyable: Sidney says that poetry does not just teach—it also makes learning fun and interesting. Many people do not like to read history or philosophy—because they find it boring or difficult. But poetry presents knowledge in a way that is beautiful and enjoyable.
Sidney draws a comparison between honey and medicine. A sick child does not want to take bitter medicine. But if the medicine is mixed with honey, the child will take it happily. Poetry is like medicine mixed with honey. Similarly, people may not want to learn difficult moral lessons, but when these lessons come in the form of poetry, stories, or songs, they enjoy learning them.
Poetry uses imagination, emotions, and beauty to make learning exciting. This is why people love poetry, songs, and stories more than dry facts.
Poetry Touches the Heart: Sidney also argues that poetry does something special—it touches the heart. Philosophy only teaches the mind—it tells people what is right and wrong, but it does not make them feel anything. Poetry reaches both the mind and the heart—it makes people feel emotions like love, bravery, and kindness. Hence, poetry naturally makes people good.
For instance, If a philosopher explains that helping the poor is good, many people may not care. But if a poet tells a moving story of a poor man who was helped by a kind stranger, people will feel inspired to help others. This emotional power makes poetry the best teacher of morality.
Sidney’s Examples: Sidney gives examples to show how poetry has influenced people in history:
- Menenius Agrippa, a Roman politician, used a fable (poetic story) to stop a civil war.
- Nathan the Prophet told a story to King David, making him realize his mistakes and repent.
These examples show that poetry has real power to guide people toward good actions.
Sidney’s Answer to Critics of Poetry: Some people argue that poetry is a waste of time or morally bad. Sidney strongly disagrees. He argues that bad poets (not poetry itself) are responsible for any harm. Good poetry always teaches virtue. He also reminds people that even Jesus used parables (short poetic stories) to teach moral lessons.
To sum up, Sidney proves that poetry has a double purpose—it teaches and delights at the same time. Unlike history, which only tells what happened, or philosophy, which is difficult to understand—poetry uses beautiful language, emotions, and imagination to make learning easy and enjoyable.