Write a note on Phineas Fletcher. [MEG 101 Prerestoration]

Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650) was an English poet who is best known for his epic poem "The Purple Island." Fletcher was the younger cousin of Giles Fletcher the Elder, who was also a poet, and both men wrote in the Spenserian style, with Phineas being heavily influenced by the work of Edmund Spenser.

"The Purple Island," which was published in 1633, is a religious allegory that tells the story of the human body and soul as if they were an island inhabited by various characters, such as Reason, the Passions, and the Senses. The poem is written in a series of Spenserian stanzas, with elaborate descriptions of nature and detailed characterizations.

Fletcher's other major work, "The Piscatory Eclogues," is a collection of pastoral poems that take place along the River Stour in Kent. The poems are written in the form of dialogues between shepherds and fishermen, and they explore themes of love, friendship, and the joys of rural life.

Overall, Fletcher's poetry reflects the religious and moral concerns of his time, and his use of the Spenserian form helped to keep the style alive during the 17th century. While he was not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, his work remains an important contribution to the Spenserian tradition in English poetry.