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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Cynthiades: To Cynthia on her being an incendiary" is an ode written by Francis Kynaston in 1640. Francis Kynaston (1587–1642) was an English courtier, poet, and translator. The poem is addressed to Cynthia, who is accused of being an "incendiary" and causing fires. The title, "Cynthiades," is a reference to the Roman goddess of the moon, Cynthia, whom Kynaston addresses throughout the poem. The poem is structured in five stanzas of irregular length, with a total of thirty-seven lines. Kynaston uses a variety of poetic devices throughout the poem, including metaphors, personification, and alliteration. For example, in the first stanza, Kynaston compares Cynthia's actions to those of a "thunderbolt," personifying her as a destructive force. He also uses alliteration to create a musical effect, as in the line "Of thy all-burning brand, on barn and thatch." "Cynthiades: To Cynthia on Her Being an Incendiary" is a poem that expresses the speaker's mixed feelings towards the woman referred to as Cynthia. The poem is essentially a love poem, but it takes a negative turn as the speaker accuses Cynthia of being an "incendiary," setting his heart ablaze with her beauty and then abandoning him. The poem explores the themes of unrequited love, the pain of rejection, and the fickle nature of desire. The speaker compares Cynthia to various mythological figures, including the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the Roman goddess Venus, emphasizing her irresistible beauty and the power she holds over him. However, he also expresses frustration and anger at her for causing him such pain, suggesting that his love for her has become a burden rather than a source of joy. Overall, "Cynthiades: To Cynthia on Her Being an Incendiary" is a complex and nuanced exploration of love and desire, highlighting the ways in which these emotions can be both joyful and painful. Overall, "Cynthiades: To Cynthia on her being an incendiary" is a notable example of seventeenth-century English poetry, both for its use of poetic devices and its exploration of complex themes.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW SEASON by MICHAEL S. HARPER THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD CYNTHIADES: TO CYNTHIA ON CONCEALMENT OF HER BEAUTY by FRANCIS KYNASTON |
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