Analysis of Sonnet XXXVII

Edmund Spenser 1552 (London) – 1599 (London)



WHat guyle is this, that those her golden tresses,
She doth attyre vnder a net of gold:
and with sly skill so cunningly them dresses,
that which is gold or heare, may scarse be told?
Is it that mens frayle eyes, which gaze too bold,
she may entangle in that golden snare:
and being caught may craftily enfold,
theyr weaker harts, which are not wel aware?
Take heed therefore, myne eyes, how ye doe stare
henceforth too rashly on that guilefull net,
in which is euer ye entrapped are,
out of her bands ye by no meanes shall get.
Fondnesse it were for any being free,
to couet fetters, though they golden bee.


Scheme ABCBBDBDDEFEGG
Poetic Form
Metre 11111101010 11110111 011111110 1111111111 1111111111 1101001101 01011101 1101111101 111111111 11111111 01111011 1101111111 110110101 111011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 602
Words 115
Sentences 5
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 475
Words per stanza (avg) 113
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

34 sec read
144

Edmund Spenser

Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. more…

All Edmund Spenser poems | Edmund Spenser Books

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