An Apology for Poetry by Philip Sidney – Kitab Mahal

An Apology for Poetry by Sir Philip Sidney is one of the foundational texts in the field of literary criticism. Written in the late 16th century, it defends the role of poetry in society and argues for its moral and educational value. Sidney responds to critics who challenge poetry’s legitimacy, countering with a passionate defense of its ability to inspire virtue and influence human behavior. This work is a significant piece of Renaissance literature and remains highly regarded for its eloquent articulation of the value of poetry and the role of the poet in society.

Key Points

1. Defense of Poetry
   Sidney defends poetry against its critics, asserting that poetry serves a unique purpose that is not just for entertainment, but for moral and intellectual improvement.

2. Poetry as a Moral Teacher
   He argues that poetry teaches virtue and helps guide the reader's actions, unlike history, which only shows what happened, or philosophy, which can be abstract and theoretical.

3. Poetry’s Ability to Influence
   Sidney highlights how poetry can inspire people to live better lives by stirring their emotions and helping them imagine noble and virtuous actions.

4. Poetry and Imagination
   The essay also emphasizes the role of the imagination in poetry, suggesting that it allows humans to envision ideal worlds and behaviors that they might strive to achieve.

5. The Poet’s Role in Society
   Sidney portrays the poet as an influential figure in society, whose works have the power to shape the minds of the people and bring about positive change in society.

Urdu Translation

An Apology for Poetry میں فلپ سڈنی نے شاعری کے کردار کا دفاع کیا ہے اور اس کی اہمیت کو اجاگر کیا ہے۔ اس کتاب میں وہ شاعری کو صرف تفریح کے طور پر نہیں، بلکہ اخلاقی اور تعلیمی طور پر بھی اہم سمجھتے ہیں۔ سڈنی نے شاعری کے ناقدین کے اعتراضات کا جواب دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ شاعری نہ صرف انسانوں کو بہتر بنانے کے لئے ایک طاقتور ذریعہ ہے، بلکہ یہ ان کی جذباتی اور تخیلاتی سطحوں کو بھی متاثر کرتی ہے۔

                                                            ════ ⋆★⋆ ═══

Writer                 ✤     Philip Sidney 

Publishers           ✤    Kitab Mahal (Pvt) Ltd , KM