Analysis of Sonnet XXI: A Witless Galant

Michael Drayton 1563 (Hartshill) – 1631 (London)



A witless gallant a young wench that woo'd
(Yet his dull spirit her not one jot could move),
Entreated me, as e'er I wish'd his good,
To write him but one sonnet to his love;
When I, as fast as e'er my pen could trot,
Pour'd out what first from quick invention came,
Nor never stood one word thereof to blot,
Much like his wit that was to use the same;
But with my verses he his mistress won,
Which doted on the dolt beyond all measure.
But see, for you to Heav'n for phrase I run,
And ransack all Apollo's golden treasure;
Yet by my froth this fool his love obtains,
And I lose you for all my love and pains.


Scheme ABCDEFEFGHGHII
Poetic Form
Metre 0101001111 11110011111 111101111 1111110111 11111101111 1111110101 110111111 1111111101 1111011101 1110101110 1111111111 0110101010 1111111101 0111111101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 617
Words 124
Sentences 3
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 463
Words per stanza (avg) 122
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

39 sec read
91

Michael Drayton

Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. more…

All Michael Drayton poems | Michael Drayton Books

0 fans

Discuss this Michael Drayton poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Sonnet XXI: A Witless Galant" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/28153/sonnet-xxi%3A-a-witless-galant>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    2
    days
    13
    hours
    1
    minute

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Which poet is associated with the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"?
    A Langston Hughes
    B Maya Angelou
    C Ralph Waldo Emerson
    D Emily Dickinson