“Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser: A Critical Analysis

Introduction:”Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

“Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser first appeared in 1595 as part of the Amoretti and Epithalamion collection. This sonnet is renowned for its exquisite language, intricate imagery, and profound exploration of love and immortality. The poem’s central idea revolves around the poet’s desire to immortalize his beloved’s name through his writing, suggesting that love and art can transcend time and death.

Text: “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

Annotations: “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

Line	Annotation
1. One day I wrote her name upon the strand	The speaker describes a romantic gesture, writing his beloved’s name on the beach, symbolizing the act of capturing something ephemeral.
2. But came the waves and washed it away:	The waves represent the inevitability of nature and time, which erases the writing, indicating the transient nature of life and human efforts.
3. Again I wrote it with a second hand,	The speaker is persistent, rewriting the name, showing his determination to immortalize his beloved.
4. But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.	Once again, nature (the tide) erases the name, symbolizing the futility of trying to achieve immortality through earthly means.
5. “Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay,	The woman speaks, calling the speaker’s attempts vain, and reminding him of the inevitable failure of trying to preserve mortality.
6. A mortal thing so to immortalize;	She challenges the notion of immortalizing a mortal being, indicating that earthly things cannot escape the natural cycle of decay.
7. For I myself shall like to this decay,	The woman acknowledges her own mortality, comparing herself to the fading name written on the sand.
8. And eke my name be wiped out likewise.”	She extends the metaphor, stating that just as the waves wiped away her name, she too will eventually be forgotten by time.
9. “Not so,” (quod I) “let baser things devise	The speaker counters, suggesting that common or lesser things may succumb to decay, but not something as special as his love.
10. To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:	He asserts that while ordinary things may die and be forgotten, his beloved will live on through fame, particularly through his poetry.
11. My verse your vertues rare shall eternize,	The speaker believes that his poetry will immortalize her virtues, preserving her name and essence for future generations.
12. And in the heavens write your glorious name:	He claims that her name will be written in the heavens, an indication of her spiritual elevation and eternal remembrance.
13. Where whenas death shall all the world subdue,	The speaker acknowledges death’s universal power over the world, yet still believes their love will transcend it.
14. Our love shall live, and later life renew.”	In the concluding line, the speaker expresses confidence that their love will be immortal and will be revived or remembered in future life.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

Device	Explanation	Usage in the Poem
Alliteration	The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.	“But came the waves and washed it away” (line 2) – The repetition of the “w” sound creates a musical quality.
Allusion	A reference to a person, place, event, or another literary work.	The mention of “heavens” (line 12) is an allusion to the afterlife or the divine realm, suggesting her name will be remembered eternally.
Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.	“But came the waves… But came the tide” (lines 2, 4) – Repetition of “But came” emphasizes the persistence of nature’s forces.
Apostrophe	Addressing an absent person, an abstract idea, or an object as if it were present or alive.	The speaker addresses his beloved (who is not literally present in the poem), as well as “death” in line 13, giving it human qualities.
Assonance	The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.	“Again I wrote it with a second hand” (line 3) – The “a” sound is repeated, enhancing the rhythm of the line.
Caesura	A pause in the middle of a line of verse, often indicated by punctuation.	“Not so,” (quod I) “let baser things devise” (line 9) – The pause after “Not so” creates a dramatic effect.
Consonance	The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, particularly at the end of words.	“My pains his prey” (line 4) – The repetition of the “p” sound ties the words together, creating a harsh tone to convey struggle.
Dialogue	The use of conversation between two characters.	The poem includes a dialogue between the speaker and his beloved, beginning in line 5 (“Vain man,” said she…) and continuing until line 14.
End-Stopped Line	A line of poetry that concludes with a pause, often signified by punctuation like a period or comma.	“And eke my name be wiped out likewise.” (line 8) – The line concludes with a period, emphasizing the finality of the statement.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break without a pause.	“One day I wrote her name upon the strand, / But came the waves and washed it away” (lines 1-2) – The idea flows across the line break without punctuation.
Hyperbole	Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.	“And in the heavens write your glorious name” (line 12) – The idea of writing a name in the heavens is an exaggeration meant to signify eternal fame.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, etc.).	The imagery of writing a name on the beach and waves washing it away creates a vivid visual scene, representing impermanence (lines 1-4).
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.	The beloved dismisses the speaker’s efforts as futile, but the irony lies in the fact that the poem itself immortalizes her as he intended (lines 5-6).
Metaphor	A direct comparison between two unlike things, saying one is the other.	The tide is metaphorically described as “mak[ing] my pains his prey” (line 4), comparing the waves to a predator that consumes the speaker’s efforts.
Metonymy	A figure of speech in which one thing is represented by another that is closely associated with it.	“The heavens” (line 12) is used as a metonym for eternity or the afterlife, where the beloved’s name will be remembered.
Personification	Attributing human characteristics to non-human things.	The waves are personified as actively “washing” and “preying” on the speaker’s efforts (lines 2 and 4).
Rhyme Scheme	The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines in a poem.	The poem follows an ABAB BCBC rhyme scheme, typical of Spenserian sonnets.
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning.	The waves symbolize the passage of time and the inevitable erasure of human effort, while the act of writing represents the desire to immortalize love (lines 1-4).
Tone	The attitude or mood conveyed by the poem.	The tone shifts from melancholic (the inevitability of decay) to triumphant (immortalizing love through poetry) as the speaker challenges mortality (lines 1-14).
Volta	A shift in the poem’s theme or tone, often occurring in sonnets.	The volta occurs in line 9, where the speaker shifts from acknowledging mortality to proclaiming that his poetry will grant eternal life to his beloved.

Themes: “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

• Theme 1: The Ephemeral Nature of Love and Life: The poem begins by illustrating the transience of both love and life. The poet writes his beloved’s name on the sand, only for the waves to erase it. This imagery symbolizes the impermanence of human existence and the fragility of love. The beloved’s response, “For I myself shall like to this decay,” reinforces this theme, suggesting that even she, a beautiful and immortalized figure, will eventually succumb to the passage of time.
• Theme 2: The Power of Art to Immortalize: In contrast to the fleeting nature of life, the poet asserts the enduring power of art. He argues that by writing his beloved’s name in verse, he can immortalize her and their love. This theme is encapsulated in the lines, “My verse your vertues rare shall eternize, / And in the heavens write your glorious name.” The poet believes that through his poetry, he can transcend the limitations of mortality and ensure that his beloved’s memory will live on.
• Theme 3: The Triumph of Love Over Death: The poem concludes with a hopeful vision of love triumphing over death. The poet suggests that while death may eventually conquer the physical world, their love will endure. This theme is conveyed in the final lines, “Where whenas death shall all the world subdue, / Our love shall live, and later life renew.” The poet expresses a belief in the eternal nature of love, suggesting that it can transcend even the most fundamental aspects of human existence.
• Theme 4: The Poet’s Dedication to His Beloved: Throughout the poem, the poet expresses a deep and unwavering dedication to his beloved. His desire to immortalize her name and their love reflects a profound commitment to preserving their relationship. This theme is evident in the poet’s persistence despite the challenges posed by the natural world and the inevitability of death.

Literary Theories and “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser 

Literary Theory	Key Concepts	Application to the Poem	References
New Criticism	Close reading, textual analysis, focus on the poem’s internal structure and language	The poem’s intricate imagery and symbolism, such as the waves erasing the poet’s writing, contribute to its overall meaning and theme of the impermanence of life and love.	“But came the waves and washed it away”
Deconstruction	Challenges the notion of a fixed meaning, explores underlying contradictions and ambiguities	The poem’s tension between the desire for immortality and the inevitability of decay creates a deconstructive reading, highlighting the impossibility of fully escaping the limitations of time and mortality.	“Again I wrote it with a second hand, / But came the tide, and made my pains his prey”
Feminist Criticism	Examines gender roles, power dynamics, and representations of women in literature	While the poem is addressed to a woman, it can be analyzed through a feminist lens to explore how the beloved is portrayed and whether she is given agency or is merely an object of the poet’s desire.	“Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay, / A mortal thing so to immortalize”

Critical Questions about “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

• How does Spenser explore the theme of mortality in the sonnet?
• In “Amoretti LXXV”, Spenser grapples with the theme of mortality by illustrating the transient nature of life through the act of writing his beloved’s name on the beach, only for the waves to wash it away. This imagery highlights the inevitable decay that time imposes on all things, including human life and memory: “But came the waves and washed it away” (line 2). His beloved acknowledges this reality, telling the speaker, “A mortal thing so to immortalize” (line 6), stressing that it is impossible to make mortal life eternal. This pessimistic view of mortality is challenged by the speaker, who believes that through his poetry, he can defy time and preserve her name and virtues. The juxtaposition between the physical impermanence of her name and the promise of immortality through verse highlights the tension between mortality and the human desire for lasting remembrance.
• In what way does the poem reflect the Renaissance ideal of eternal fame through art?
• The poem strongly reflects the Renaissance ideal that art, particularly poetry, has the power to grant eternal life. Spenser, writing during the Renaissance, adheres to the belief that while physical life may perish, artistic expression can immortalize a person or event. In line 11, the speaker claims, “My verse your vertues rare shall eternize,” suggesting that his poetic composition will capture and preserve his beloved’s essence for future generations. The Renaissance emphasis on human achievement and the capacity of art to transcend time is evident in the speaker’s conviction that his poetry will inscribe his beloved’s name “in the heavens” (line 12), symbolizing her eternal place in the universe. The idea of transcending death through art aligns with the Renaissance humanist view of the artist as a creator of timeless works that defy the boundaries of mortality.
• What role does nature play in the poem, and how does it contribute to its themes?
• Nature, represented by the waves and tide, plays a central role in “Amoretti LXXV” as a force that symbolizes the passage of time and the impermanence of life. The waves “washed it away” (line 2), and the tide “made my pains his prey” (line 4), serving as metaphors for time’s relentless ability to erase human achievements and memories. The constant movement of the waves mirrors the inevitability of decay and death, emphasizing the frailty of human life and efforts. However, nature’s role is contrasted with the speaker’s belief in poetry’s ability to defy this natural cycle. While the natural world may obliterate physical traces, the speaker argues that his verse can withstand these forces and preserve his beloved’s name. Thus, nature in the poem underscores the conflict between time and the speaker’s desire for eternal remembrance through art.
• How does the dialogue between the speaker and his beloved shape the poem’s argument?
• The dialogue between the speaker and his beloved is crucial to the development of the poem’s argument, as it presents opposing views on the nature of mortality and immortality. The beloved’s words, “Vain man” (line 5), represent a rational acceptance of the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to preserve mortal things. She reminds the speaker that “I myself shall like to this decay” (line 7), implying that, just like the writing on the sand, she too will fade. This argument embodies a stoic realism, grounded in the acknowledgment of life’s impermanence. In response, the speaker counters with an idealistic belief in the power of poetry to transcend death. He claims that “my verse your vertues rare shall eternize” (line 11), proposing that while her physical body may decay, her memory will live on through his writing. This exchange sets up a tension between realism and idealism, with the speaker ultimately asserting that love and art can triumph over death.

Literary Works Similar to “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

• “Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” by William Shakespeare
• Similarity: Like Spenser’s sonnet, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 explores the theme of immortalizing a beloved through poetry. Shakespeare, too, believes that verse has the power to preserve beauty and love beyond the decay of time.
• “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
• Similarity: Shelley’s “Ozymandias” similarly reflects on the transient nature of human achievements and how time erases even the greatest monuments, paralleling Spenser’s meditation on how earthly things are washed away, despite human attempts at permanence.
• “Sonnet 55: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments” by William Shakespeare
• Similarity: In this sonnet, Shakespeare, much like Spenser, asserts that poetry has the power to outlast physical monuments and ensure that the memory of a beloved remains eternal, despite the inevitable destruction of time.
• “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats
• Similarity: Keats’s ode shares the theme of immortality through art with Spenser’s sonnet. Both works contemplate how art can capture moments and emotions, preserving them beyond the limits of life and time.
• “When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be” by John Keats
• Similarity: Keats, like Spenser, explores the fear of mortality and the desire to leave a lasting legacy. Both poems reflect on the potential of poetry to grant immortality in a world where human life is fleeting.

Representative Quotations of “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“One day I wrote her name upon the strand”	The poem begins with the poet writing his beloved’s name on the beach.	New Criticism: This imagery sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of mortality and the transience of love.
“But came the waves and washed it away”	The waves erase the poet’s writing, symbolizing the impermanence of life and love.	Deconstruction: This image highlights the inherent contradiction between the poet’s desire for immortality and the inevitable forces of nature.
“Again I wrote it with a second hand”	The poet tries to rewrite his beloved’s name, demonstrating his persistence in preserving her memory.	Feminist Criticism: While the poem is addressed to a woman, this line can be interpreted as the poet’s attempt to control or possess her through his writing.
“But came the tide, and made my pains his prey”	The tide erases the poet’s second attempt, reinforcing the theme of the futility of his efforts.	New Criticism: This image contributes to the poem’s overall tone of despair and melancholy.
“Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay, / A mortal thing so to immortalize”	The beloved responds to the poet’s attempts, suggesting that his efforts are futile.	Feminist Criticism: This line suggests that the beloved may be aware of the poet’s objectification and is challenging his assumptions.
“For I myself shall like to this decay”	The beloved acknowledges her own mortality, further emphasizing the theme of the impermanence of life.	Deconstruction: This line reinforces the deconstructive reading of the poem, highlighting the impossibility of escaping death and decay.
“Not so,” (quod I) “let baser things devise / To die in dust, but you shall live by fame”	The poet argues that through his poetry, he can immortalize his beloved.	New Criticism: This line expresses the poet’s belief in the power of art to transcend mortality.
“My verse your vertues rare shall eternize”	The poet asserts that his poetry will preserve his beloved’s memory.	Deconstruction: This line can be read as a contradictory statement, as it suggests that the poet believes he can overcome the limitations of language and time.
“And in the heavens write your glorious name”	The poet envisions his beloved’s name being written in the heavens, symbolizing her eternal fame.	New Criticism: This image creates a sense of hope and transcendence, contrasting with the earlier images of loss and decay.
“Where whenas death shall all the world subdue, / Our love shall live, and later life renew”	The poet suggests that their love will endure beyond death.	Deconstruction: This final line can be seen as a hopeful affirmation of love’s power, but it also raises questions about the nature of love and its ability to truly transcend mortality.

Suggested Readings: “Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote her Name” by Edmund Spenser

1. Araujo, Laura Ribeiro. “The Crisscrossing of Time in Spenser’s Amoretti LXXV and Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVIII.” Indonesian Journal of English Language Studies (IJELS) 8.2 (2022): 62-70.
2. BATES, CATHERINE. “The Politics of Spenser’s ‘Amoretti.’” Criticism, vol. 33, no. 1, 1991, pp. 73–89. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23113624. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.
3. Johnson, William C. “Spenser’s Amoretti and the Art of the Liturgy.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 14, no. 1, 1974, pp. 47–61. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/449682. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.