George Puttenham facts for kids

George Puttenham (born 1529, died 1590) was an English writer and literary critic. He is widely believed to have written an important book about poetry and how to write well, called The Arte of English Poesie. This book was published in 1589.

George Puttenham's Early Life

George Puttenham was the second son of Robert Puttenham and Margaret Elyot. His mother was the sister of a famous writer, Sir Thomas Elyot. George had an older brother named Richard.

He started studying at Christ's College, Cambridge, in November 1546 when he was 17. Later, he joined the Middle Temple, which is a place where lawyers are trained.

Around 1559 or 1560, Puttenham married Elizabeth, Lady Windsor. She was a widow and brought a lot of money to the marriage. They had at least one daughter together. Around 1562, Puttenham traveled abroad.

Who Wrote The Arte of English Poesie?

The Arte of English Poesie was officially registered in 1588 and published in 1589. The printer, Richard Field, wrote a letter to Lord Burghley, saying he didn't know who the author was. However, changes made to the book while it was being printed suggest the author was alive and that Field likely knew who it was.

Early Mentions of the Book

The first time someone mentioned the book was in 1591. Sir John Harrington wrote about it in his own book. He disagreed with the author's idea that poetry is an art you learn, not just a natural gift. Harrington said the author's own poems weren't very good, which proved his point. Even though Harrington didn't name the author, he later asked the printer to publish his book "in the same print that Putnams book is."

Later Clues to Authorship

In 1614, Richard Carew wrote that Sir Phillip Sidney, Maister Puttenham, and others had shown how English poetry could be as good as poetry in other languages. Around the same time, Edmund Bolton wrote about the "elegant, witty, and artificial book of the Art of English Poetrie." He said it was written by one of Queen Elizabeth's "Gentleman Pensioners" named Puttenham. Since George Puttenham received special leases from the queen in 1588, this strongly suggests he was the author.

Biographical Hints in the Book

The book itself gives some clues about the author. It mentions that the author studied at Oxford. At 18, he wrote a poem called Elpine for King Edward VI. The author also said he visited Spain, France, and Italy when he was young.

The Puttenham Brothers

Historians have debated whether George or his brother Richard wrote the book. Both brothers had difficult lives and were often involved in legal disputes. One reason people think George wrote it is that Richard was in prison when the book was approved for printing. Also, Richard spent a lot of time abroad, but George only left England once. This matches the author's description of himself better.

Many experts have studied the evidence. Some, like H. H. S. Croft, believed Richard was the author. However, many modern scholars now agree that George Puttenham is the most likely author of this important work.

About The Arte of English Poesie

No matter who wrote it, The Arte of English Poesie is a very important book. It is one of the most complete guides to poetry from that time. The book is divided into three main parts:

Book I: Poets and Poesie

This part talks about the history of poetry in Greek, Latin, and English. It explains that in ancient times, many subjects, even science and law, were written in verse. The author describes many different types of poetry. He argues that poetry is a powerful and beautiful way to use language. It is well-structured and accurate. The book also points out that poets throughout history have been highly respected, even by kings and queens.

Book II: Proportion Poetical

This section compares the structure of poetry to math and music. It looks at five key parts of English verse:

• The "Staffe" (or stanza): This is a group of lines, usually four to ten, that form a complete thought. Different stanza lengths fit different types of poems.
• The "Measure": This refers to the length of lines in a poem. The author believed English poetry mainly used a syllabic system, meaning the number of syllables in a line was important.
• "Concord or Symphony" (Rhyme): This explains how rhyming words at the end of lines create a pleasing sound. The book shows many diagrams to illustrate different rhyme patterns.
• "Situation": This refers to how lines are arranged visually on the page.
• "Figure": This describes how stanzas can be shaped into graphic forms, like a rhombus or a spire.

Book III: Ornament

This is the longest part of the book. It lists and explains many figures of speech, which are special ways of using words to make writing more interesting. The author explains that figures of speech make language more powerful, clear, and effective. They help writers to expand, shorten, or change their ideas. The book ends with advice on good manners in writing. It suggests using the common speech of the court and London, rather than old-fashioned words.

Influence of The Arte of English Poesie

Many later books about poetry were influenced by The Arte of English Poesie. The original edition of the book is very rare today.

According to the book, poets like Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey traveled to Italy. They brought back new Italian poetry styles, which helped to "reform" English poetry. The introduction of these new styles led to many poetry guides being written during the Renaissance. Other important writers like George Gascoigne and Sir Philip Sidney also wrote about poetry. There is still discussion today about how important Puttenham's book was compared to these other works.