In discussing the rhetorical patterns of this stanza, I might want to talk about epanodos (in one definition of which individual items are subsequently and individually expanded upon) combined with a sort of delayed and ordered anadiplosis (which turns the last term into the first term). But I might just call it a “show-stopper interwoven list.”

 

From: Sidney-Spenser Discussion List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of "RACK, MELISSA" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Sidney-Spenser Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 11:11 AM
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: So shall wrath, gealosy, grief, love die and decay

 

I suppose you could call it "spondaic verse" but I'm not sure that's a thing. Does madrigal have a specific verse form? 

 

~Melissa J. Rack 

Assistant Professor of English 

University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie

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From: Sidney-Spenser Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Vasiliauskas, Emily [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 11:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: So shall wrath, gealosy, grief, love die and decay

Hello all,

 

Is there a technical name for that show-stopper interwoven list form that Spenser uses from time to time? The example I have ready-to-hand is FQ II.iv.34:

 

"Wrath, gealosie, griefe, love do thus expel:

Wrath is a fire, and gealosie a weede,

Griefe is a flood, and love a monster fell;

The fire of sparkes, the weede of little seede,

The flood of drops, the Monster filth did breede:

But sparks, seed, drops, and filth do thus delay;

The sparks soone quench, the springing seed outweed

The drops dry up, and filth wipe cleane away:

So shall wrath, gealosy, grief, love die and decay."

 

I seem to remember a relationship between this and madrigal form? But I'm not sure at all. 

 

Best wishes,

 

Emily

---------------------------

Emily Vasiliauskas

Assistant Professor of English

Williams College