Garcilaso's Eclogue 1: Analysis of Structure, Themes, and Style

Garcilaso's Eclogue: Structure and Form

Eclogue of Garcilaso: Silva: Verse form using 7 and 11 syllable lines, with no fixed rhyme scheme, combined as the poet desires. Stanza: A silva repeated after a certain number of verses. Eclogue 1: Structure: Consists of 30 stanzas.

Content and Setting

From the pastoral genre, it features two shepherds. Salicio laments the lack of affection from the shepherdess Galatea, and Nemoroso mourns the death of Elisa. Salicio and Nemoroso represent two moments in Garcilaso's life. The setting is a locus amoenus (a pleasant place).

Sections of Eclogue 1

1. Three stanzas: A dedication to the King of Naples, set at dawn.
2. A stanza: Introduces Salicio and the sunrise in the locus amoenus.
3. Twelve stanzas: Salicio's monologue, complaining about Galatea's lack of love.
4. A stanza: The end of Salicio's monologue and the introduction of Nemoroso.
5. Twelve stanzas: Nemoroso's monologue, lamenting the death of Elisa. The only consolation is the hope of death and reunion with Elisa.
6. A stanza: Coincides with the setting sun.

Grammatical Analysis

A1) PN: Copulative. 2) PV a) Active: Transitive, intransitive, reflexive, direct (pronoun is the direct object), indirect (pronoun is the indirect object), reciprocal, impersonal. B) Passive. B1) Declarative: Affirmative, negative. 2) Hesitant. 3) Interrogative. 4) Exclamatory. 5) Of desire. 6) Mandatory.

Garcilaso's Themes and Style

Garcilaso's Topics:

• Petrarchan conception of love.
• Idealized, refined, and harmonious nature.
• Mythology.

Style: Garcilaso's poetry emphasizes metaphor, with abundant use of epithet, hyperbaton, alliteration, and personification.

Three Stages in Garcilaso's Poetic Development

• Influence of Hispanic lyrics.
• Assimilation of Petrarchism and new art.
• Fullness of poetic expression.

Eclogue 1: A Synthesis of Passion and Form

Eclogue 1 is significant for its perfect combination of passionate love and formal perfection. The poet projects his own experience of love onto the two shepherds: Salicio, expressing disappointment in love, and Nemoroso, expressing the pain of Elisa's death.