Man of Life Upright by Thomas Campion

Biography England's Thomas Campion was a

16th and 17th century physician, writer and composer known for his innovative ideas on form.

Born on February 12, 1567, in London, Thomas Campion attended school for law though later worked as a doctor.

He was also a prolific poet/lyricist and songwriter, as seen in works like the Book of Ayeres andLight Conceits of Lovers. Campion offered theories on poetic form that called for less reliance on rhyming and was an innovator in his use of language. He died in England on March 1, 1620.

He never married nor had children; rather, he lived a “life upright.”

"Thomas Campion." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.

The man of life upright, Whose guiltless heart is free,From all dishonest deeds Or thought of vanity.

The man whose silent days In harmless joys are spent,Whom hopes cannot delude Nor sorrow discontent:

That man needs neither towers Nor armour for defence,Nor secret vaults to fly From thunder’s violence.

He only can behold With unaffrighted eyesThe horrors of the deep And terrors of the skies.

Thus scorning all the cares That fate or fortune brings,He makes the heaven his book, His wisdom heavenly things;

Good thoughts his only friends, His wealth a well-spent age, The earth his sober inn And quiet pilgrimage.

The Man of Life UprightThomas Campion (1567-1620)

ContentAn upright man is a good, pure man who leads a disciplined life free from sin. He is also confident in God and therefore courageous. He is aware that worldly goods are temporary, so he studies religious books and nature to refine his wisdom and his honesty. Ultimately, he believes that only his good deeds will aide him when he begins his journey into eternity.

As you read consider whether “the upright man” is both

perfect and happy.

Structure The poem contains six stanzas, each with four short lines. In each stanza,

the second line rhymes with the fourth. The poem is controlled and organized, much like the life of an “upright man.” The rhythm is regular and almost all pauses fall at the end of the lines. The poem’s content is similar to a sermon in that examples of a virtuous life

are shared followed by the reward in the after life.

The man of life upright, Whose guiltless heart is free,From all dishonest deeds Or thought of vanity.

Stanza is one sentence that introduces the topic.

Inverted syntax places emphasis on “upright” to stress the moral righteousness of this “man.”

Note that an “upright” man must be free from “all” dishonesty and “all” vanity in order to be guiltless. Is this too perfect?

“Guiltless heart” is also personified to stress the heart as an image of the soul.

The man whose silent days In harmless joys are spent,Whom hopes cannot delude Nor sorrow discontent:

The “man” who is pure lives in silence and experiences only “harmless joys.” Thus, life for this man is either one of

quiet joy or sterile.

If “hopes cannot delude,” does an upright man have no hope because he spends his life as a humble man or an aesthetic? Also, does he feel no “sorrow” because he’s emotionless or is he self-reliant?

Another way to perceive this is that the noble man does not live beyond his means and is therefore not betrayed by hopes and sorrows.

The “towers” and “armour” allude to royalty and power that both create a life of stress and conflict. The military metaphor infers that life is a battle for a dishonest man. Thus, the righteous man has nothing to fear on earth.

That man needs neither towers

Nor armour for defence,

Nor secret vaults to fly

From thunder’s violence.

“Thunder;s violence” morphs into God’s wrath as symbolized by “thunder.” Again, the “upright man” has nothing to fear.

Repetition of “nor” stresses the need to be free from these desires.

Negative diction continues with “horrors” and “terrors.” Just like “thunder’s violence,” the diction highlights the consequences of an impure life.

He only can behold

With unaffrighted eyes

The horrors of the deep

And terrors of the skies.

The “horrors of the deep” serve as an allusion to hell.

The sky’s “terrors” refer to the end of the world, the final rapture when only those who are “upright” will be saved.The synecdoche (“eyes”) function as a “window to the soul.”

Thus scorning all the cares That fate or fortune brings,He makes the heaven his book, His wisdom heavenly things;The man who follows the rules of God leads

the “upright” man to heaven. Thus, “his book” is an allusion to the Bible, a symbol of purity and goodness.

An “upright” man can “scorn” the cares of the world as he is invulnerable to troubles.

Diction changes from negative ideas to ideas of “heaven,” which might encourage a man to change his behavior for a more positive outcome.

After the warnings, the sermon begins.

The repetition of “his” forces focus on the man’s independence and solidarity.

Good thoughts his only friends, His wealth a well-spent age, The earth his sober inn And quiet pilgrimage.

Note that the previously negative diction continues in a positive vein with the mention of “wealth a well-spent age.”

Stanzas five and six comprise one sentence to highlight the change to positive images.

The lack of verbs accentuates the rhythmic flow of the final stanza

thereby altering the syntax.

Works Cited https://intergiscs.wordpr

ess. com/2011/12/20/the-man-of-life-upright-by-thomas-campion-summary/

http://www.guesspapers.net/1712/the-man-of-life-upright/

http://www.cieliterature.com/2014/04/04/the-man-of-life-upright/

http://subjects-notes.blogspot. com/2013/02/the-man-of-life-upright-summary-as-well.html#. VMP0eXDF_2Y