The Presentation of the Queen's Emotions in 'I grieve, and dare not show my discontent' Tan Wei Xin 11th Grade

“I Grieve, and Dare Not Show My Discontent” is a three-stanza poem written by Queen Elizabeth I that allegedly features Francis, the French Duke of Anjou as her beloved. Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth I entertained many suitors to get what England needed, including English nobles and foreign princes, but this poem evidences the fact that her relationship with the French Duke appeared to be different, and that there was more to their relationship than mere political interest. In 1579, the Duke and Elizabeth met secretly but the news of the death of a friend cut the Duke’s visit short. Elizabeth, saddened at his quick departure, wrote this poem to express her emotions. However, her sentiments concerning the union were complicated because there was great opposition in England about her marrying a man who was not only of French origin but Catholic as well. It is obvious that the poem speaks to the inner conflict within her regarding what is expected of her as a queen and what her heart truly feels. Therefore, the question here is: how have the Queen's emotions been presented in this poem?

The opening stanza begins by defining the clash between Queen Elizabeth I’s internal emotions and her public display through the use of...