Compare and contrast the Epithalamion and the Prothalamion as wedding songs. [MEG 101 SPENSER]

Both the Epithalamion and the Prothalamion are wedding songs written by Edmund Spenser, but they have some notable differences.

Firstly, the Epithalamion is a longer and more complex poem than the Prothalamion. It consists of 24 stanzas, each containing nine lines, and is divided into different sections that correspond to different stages of the wedding day. In contrast, the Prothalamion is a shorter poem of only 67 lines, consisting of eleven stanzas of six lines each.

Secondly, while both poems celebrate the joys of marriage, they have different tones and moods. The Epithalamion is a more passionate and ecstatic poem, filled with intense emotions and vivid imagery. It celebrates the physical and spiritual union of the bride and groom, and explores the various emotions and experiences of the wedding day, from the anticipation and excitement of the morning to the consummation of the marriage at night. In contrast, the Prothalamion is a more serene and peaceful poem, with a gentler and more contemplative tone. It celebrates the beauty of the Thames river and the surrounding landscape, and uses this natural imagery to reflect on the joys and blessings of marriage.

Thirdly, the Epithalamion and the Prothalamion have different structures and formal features. The Epithalamion is written in Spenserian stanzas, a form created by Spenser himself that consists of nine lines, with the first eight lines in iambic pentameter and the ninth line in iambic hexameter. This complex form allows Spenser to vary his rhythms and use a range of poetic devices such as enjambment and internal rhyme. In contrast, the Prothalamion is written in regular stanzas of six lines, with a simple ABABCC rhyme scheme.

Overall, while both the Epithalamion and the Prothalamion are wedding songs that celebrate the joys of marriage, they have different tones, moods, and formal features. The Epithalamion is a more passionate and complex poem that explores the various emotions and experiences of the wedding day, while the Prothalamion is a gentler and more contemplative poem that celebrates the beauty of the natural world and the blessings of marriage.