Sir Philip Sidney ( 30 November 1554 - 17 October 1586 ) was an English poet , courtier, scholar and soldier who is remembered as one of the most prominent figure of the Elizabethan age. His famous works include Astrophel and Stella, The Defence of Poesy ( also known as The Defence Of Poetry or An Apology For Poetry ), and The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.

                      In the beginning of his Apology, Sidney advances certain reasons to show that poetry should be high valued. The poets were the first light bringers to ignorance. At that time, the influence of poetry was a civilising one.

                      The Romans called the poet “ Vates ” which means a seer or a prophet, and in Greek the word ‘ poet ’ means ‘ maker or creator ’. The poet is a creator in the real sense of the term, for while all other arts are tied to Nature, the poet is not a slave to Nature. He is truly creative. The poet alone can fashion a perfect lover, a perfect friend, and a perfect valiant man, even though they are not found in Nature.

                      In the name of poetry, Sidney includes all imaginative literature, for him, verse is not an essential part of poetry. According to him, Verse is “ an ornament and no cause to poetry." However, he is conscious of the significance of verse, of the pleasure it brings, and though he does not consider it as the ‘ essence ’ of poetry, his pronouncements show that he regards it as an inseparable part of poetry. This is so because verse enables the poet to speak," wit , the dignity of the subject and not loosely " , it gives delight, and it is an aid to memory.

                      Sidney agrees with Plato that poetry is :

• a divine gift,
• the result of inspiration,
• he is at pains to define it in rational terms.

                      He defines poetry as an “ art of imitation ”. Sidney agrees with Aristotle that poetry is an imitation, but he regards imitation as a creative process. The poet does not copy merely, “ what is or has been, or shall " but he also transmutes the real and the actual and also attempts entirely new creation. He creates quite new forms such as were never in nature, as Demigods, furles, cyclops etc. This creative force in the poet is the result of divine inspiration.

                       This creation of the poet is not :

• entirely imaginative.
• it is not merely building castles in the air, rather
• it is the creation of a perfect ideal world such as existed in the mind of God.

                        Poetry embodies something of a permanent and universal value. Aristotle believed that the poet arrives at the universal through the particular. However, Sidney believed that he does so, through the contemplation of ideal reality. Both find in poetry truths of the highest kind.

                        Now, let's understand the Function of poetry. The Function of Poetry :

• is to delight and
• teach, and it teaches by moving men to goodness.

                         Poetry not only conveys knowledge and ethical teaching, but it also moves and inspires to noble action. It has an elevating influence on the human soul, and so leads to well - doing. It is thus superior both to history and philosophy. Philosophy presents merely abstract precepts, which cannot be understood by the young. History deals with concrete facts or examples of virtue, but from the facts the readers must themselves derive universal or general truth. But poetry combines both these advantages. Poetry presents universal truths like philosophy, but it does so through concrete examples, like history. It also teaches virtue in a intelligible way even to the ordinary men.

                         Poetry does not merely gives us a knowledge of virtue, it also moves us to virtuous action. This is also because :

• its truths are conveyed in a delightful manner ;
• it allures men to virtue, and
• holds attention by its manifold charms.
• It does not merely show the way but also gives it so sweet a prospect as will entice any man to follow it.
• It wins the mind from wickedness to virtue.
• It alone of all the arts and sciences leads to virtuous action.

                         According to Sidney , poetry are of seven kinds :

1. Pastoral Poetry : Pastoral Poetry deals with lowliest life and thus arouses sympathy and admiration for simple life, and hatred for acts of cruelty and tyranny.
2. Elegaic Poetry : Elegaic Poetry arouses sympathy for the suffering and miserable. It softens the heart.
3. Satire : Satire laughs folly out of court.
4. Comedy : Comedy is an imitation of common errors in a ridiculous fashion, and so is effective in warning men against such errors.
5. Tragedy : Tragedy reveals the wickedness of men in high places and brings home to men the uncertainty of life.
6. Lyric : Lyric hymns the praise of men and God and thus enkindles virtue and courage.
7. The Epic Poetry : The Epic Poetry is the best and the most accomplished kind of poetry in which heroic and moral goodness is most effectively portrayed.

                         These are the seven kinds of poetry.

In the end, Sidney considers one by one objections that were brought against poetry by Stephen Gosson and other puritans like him. And these objections are :

• Poetry is mere, “ rhyming and versifying ” : Sidney points out that rhyme is not the ‘ essence ’ of poetry, but it is desirable to it , for it is a polish to speech, Scaliger had defended its use : it regulates verbal harmony and imparts order and proportion so pleasuring to men, it adds to words a sensuous and emotional quality of music, and it is an aid to memory.
• Poetry is useless and so is a waste of time : “ There are other more fruitful branches of knowledge, a man may better spend his time in them than in poetry. ” To this charge, Sidney replies that poetry is conductive to virtuous action, and amply demonstrates this in the opening parts of him immortal work.
• Poetry is “ the mother of lies ” : To this Sidney replies that the Historian can lie for he affirms facts, but not the poet for he does not deal with what is, but with what should be or should not be. He offers not fact but fiction, yet fiction embodying truth of an ideal kind.
• Poetry has a wanton or corrupting influence : It makes men effeminate. It is infected with love theme and so fills the mind of men with “ pestilent desires.” Sidney concedes that in much of modern poetry there was a, “ vicious treatment of love” , but love itself is not bad, for it shows an appreciation of beauty. The fault lies not with poetry, but with the contemporary abuse of poetry. The abuse of poetry should not lead to a condemnation of poetry itself.
• As regards the charge that Plato had banished poets from his ideal commonwealth, Sidney replies that Plato was not against poetry, but the abuse of poetry. He points out that Plato held poets in high esteem and regarded him as, “ a light and winged and sacred thing. " 

This is how Sidney interpreted The Doctrine Of Poetry as Imitation….