Who so list to hount I knowe where is an hynde

Form that the poem adheres to, where it deviates

Petrachan sonnet, slightly deviates from typical rhyme scheme in sextet but this wasn’t that uncommon. Still adheres to other expectations (e.g. volta in the 9th line as focus turns to acceptance of impossibility and referring to other suitors)

Significance of the poem in terms of other suitors etc.

In modern English, title means “whoever wishes to hunt, I know where a hind is”. Addressing other suitors, acknowledging how widely pursued the “hynde” is, also not addressing the “hynde” directly (inattainability)

What period is this poem/form from?

Renaissance

Significance of “farthest cometh behind” in terms of context

In Tudor times, people would generally hunt in big groups and those at the back of the hunt were the least influential and the least likely to be successful. Speaker acknowledging his own insignificance and the futility of his pursuit

Significance of reference to “Cesars”

“Cesars” - could be seen as a reference to H8 esp given some critics have theorised that the poem is about Anne Boleyn. Caesar was also a well-used metaphor for anyone of power similar to the Roman emperor.

AB context

Some critics have theorised that the poem is about Anne Boleyn, who Wyatt was rumoured to have an affair with/romantic attachment to. However, she was of course off bounds given she married H8 in 1533. In 1536, he was also arrested a few days after Anne on the basis of his potential prior romantic attachment to AB, but was later released because of his good relationship with Tommy Crom

Why were deers seen a symbol of innocence and purity?

they were associated with Diana, the greek goddess of hunting and of virginity

What is the meter of the poem? What is the one exception?

Iambic pentameter, except in line 7 “Faynting I followe. I leve of therefore” - mix of iamb, trochee and spondee. Evokes the idea of fatigue and struggling

What almost serves as a refrain in this poem?

“Who so list to hount” - features at the start of each section in the poem, but changes at the start of the sextet to “who list HER hount”. Switch to pronoun makes it more personal

Extended metaphor throughout the poem and typicality

Hunting, fairly typical of the time when hunting was a prominent pastime but ideas of courtly love and the chase also featured prominently in literature

Meaning of noli me tangere

Touch me not

In what way does noli me tangere further demonstrate the purity of the deer>

Draws parallels to Bible quote “touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father” - suggests deer/woman is holy and sacred