Conforming to, and Deviating from, Genre Conventions in Spenser's "Sonnet 15" Anonymous 12th Grade

English sonnets often explore the theme of love and the lady’s eternal beauty. Edmund Spenser was one of the best known Elizabethan sonneteers during the 16th century. In 1595, he composed a total of eighty-nine sonnets in his sonnet cycle “Amoretti”, following his courtship of Elizabeth Boyle, the woman he later married. (Librivox). However, Sonnet 15 from “Amoretti” is a little different to typical sonnets because it breaks with the stereotypical appraisal of the woman’s physical beauty. This can be seen in the final couplet where Spenser creates a dramatic reversal stating that his lady’s mind and virtue are the fairest of her traits. On the other hand, although Spenser’s sonnet breaks some gender stereotypes, it actually reinforces the male poet’s perspective and stereotypes the lady. This can be seen through the first sestet focusing on the stereotypes of the merchants, the second sestet Spenser uses the form of blazon to praise his lady’s beauty, and the ending couplet creating a dramatic reversal acclaiming her mind and virtue.

In “Sonnet 15” the speaker claims to appreciate the lady’s virtuous mind virtue above all her physical traits, unlike conventional sonnets, however his focus on the lady's outward appearance...