Sidney defends various kinds or forms or species of poetry. The various popular forms of poetry are the Pastoral, Elegy, Satire, Comedy, Tragedy, Lyric and Epic. Sidney defends each type on its own merit.
He admires the Pastorals because they bring into light the miseries of the poorest section of society—the shepherds, peasants, cottagers and the like living with their flocks of sheep and goats. The Pastorals show the generosity of the poet’s heart.
The Elegy expresses human compassion accompanied with the causes of lamentation. The Elegies exhibit tender human feelings
The Satire humourously exposes human follies and vanities without hurting anybody’s personal feelings. The satirist functions as a reformer.
The Comedy is an imitation of the common errors of our lives, so that no spectator will dare act that way or do such a folly. Nothing can more open our eyes than to find our own actions so contemptibly exhibited.
Tragedies make the kings and tyrrants realize their tyrannies and thier outcome. Sidney says, “with stirring the effects of admiration and commiseration, Tragedy teacheth uncertainty of this world, and upon how weak foundations golden roofs are builded.”
The Lyric praises virtue in sweet tunes and pleasantly gives moral precepts.
And finally, the Epic unrolls before us the heroic exploits and victories of our great ancestors and fills us with pride.
