Elizabeth I's work as an author is often disregarded when the literary period named after her is discussed. As the daughter of a powerful Tudor king and future Queen she enjoyed an education other women of her time could not even dream of. Her literary story starts with translations from Latin and Greek, considerations on other poets and similar meta-analysis. Later she started to write letters, followed by some poems that follow the style of her time.
Her poems, different from other authors, have a strong focus on her own life and what it means to be a princess/Queen. Throughout her reign, her writing dealt with the same issues that confronted her on a daily basis in ruling of an empire. While her letters and speeches, carefully crafted, were meant to influence others through their literary impact, her poetry mostly was meant as a personal affair, only shared with those close to her. This is evident when one considers the different personal topics that are discussed throughout the poems. Her reign and public image was styled around the picture of the Virgin Queen. Within her poetry, however, unrequited love and sorrow are recurring topics. The poem “On Monsieur’s Departure” is one excellent example of this internal, emotional conflict Elizabeth must have felt as an eternal celibate.
This dichotomy of the Queen Elizabeth I and the person Elizabeth I can be considered the main theme of her poetry. Another recurring topic that makes this difficult separation clear is the execution of Mary o Scotland, a close relative of Elizabeth and clear threat to her throne. She was executed by decree of Elizabeth, however, her published speeches show that she was reluctant to do so, while other options seemed even less possible. Poems written sometime after the affair show evidence that Elizabeth loathed the indecisiveness she showed and wished to show more resolve.
Poetic work, mostly keeping to the conventions of her time in Petrarchan language, seems to have been an outlet for emotions Elizabeth was unable to show in her daily dealings as Queen. Within this analysis of individual poems should always consider the period in which they were written and address the historical facts of Elizabeth’s rule during that time.
