The 13th Warrior and Sir Philip Sidney Defense of Poesy

Poetry as Moral Guidance.

A Norse battle prayer is recited in the climatic scene from the movie “The 13^th Warrior.”   The prayer is short, but rallies a small group of warriors to overcome their fear of death and enact virtuous actions against an overwhelming enemy.  Sir Philip Sidney’s writing, from “The Defence of Poesy,” speaks to the prayer as a guiding force that supports and manifests the courageous acts of the men.

Sidney writes that to assign value to poetry, it must instruct and teach at the same level of Moral Philosophy and History, as these fields are recognized as the highest end of knowledge (261).     Sidney writes that philosophy teaches through tedious descriptions and abstract considerations.   History, in Sidney’s view, can only speak to particulars; is bound to the past; is unable to speak to the future (261-265).   Sidney furthers his criticism of Philosophy as only educated men can learn it; whereas universals, as offered by poetry, can be understood and appreciated by all men (262-264).   Sidney argues that using universals speaking to the future along with the poet’s ability to provide the “Perfect Picture” of philosophy are the strengths of poetry; effectively elevating it above History or Moral Philosophy.

“Lo, there do I see my father.

Lo, there do I see my mother,

And my sisters and my brothers.

Lo, there do I see the line of my people,

Back to the beginning.

Lo, there do they call to me.

They bid me to take my place among them,

In the Halls of Valhalla,

Where the brave may life forever.” (13^th Warrior).

This prayer is first heard at a funeral for a Viking king.   Numerous clans have gathered to pay their respects.   Universal understanding and shared cultural meaning is established when all of the clans recite the prayer in unison.  

 The prayer relies on shared experiences and cultural values to manifest images emphasizing love, loyalty, and bravery.   The prayer uses universals of the past to speak to the possibility of a glorious afterlife in the future.    

In the climatic scene we see the poisoned leader, Buliwyf, stumble to the battlefield.  The enemy vastly outnumbers his small band of men and death appears imminent.  Buliwyf recites the prayer and his men join him.    The men draw strength from each other and their culture as they move through the prayer.   They are reminded their actions and response to life is more important than their death.  Their tone turns from anxiousness to confidence and readiness. The prayer is a poem that inspires and motivates courage in ways that Moral Philosophy and History cannot.

            Sidney identifies that critics portray poetry as lies and mechanisms of abuses (270).  Sidney responds by stating that all writers lie, but poets lie less as they do not affirm truths (271).    He also agrees that abuses can be present.  However, he identifies that abuses reside in most fields of study and occupations.  An analogy of a sword to demonstrate that abuse is defined by intent: “With a sword thou mayst kill they father, and with a sword thou mayst defend thy prince and country” (273).  

            The prayer does not speak to truths.  It speaks to courage through virtuous action and it speaks to eternal rewards.   The appropriateness of the prayer is answered with a simple question.  Is it better die in fear and defeat, or, to die in the fellowship of good friends while fighting for what you and your people believe in?  Emotional guidance is obtained through the instruction and frequent recital of the prayer.

            Sir Philip Sidney “The Defence of Poesy” speaks to the unique traits possessed by poetry that enable us to envision ideas and give them emotional context.   In the 13^th Warrior, a poem presented as a prayer reminds a small group of men of their roots and guides their actions to face an unyielding foe.

Works Cited

The 13^th Warrior. Dir. John Mctiernan.  Perf. Antionio Benderas et al.  Touchstone Pictures. 1999. Film.

Sidney, Sir Philip.  The Defence of Poesy.  The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.  Ed. Vincent B. Leitch et al.  2^nd ed. New York: W.W.Norton & Co., 2010. 251-283. Print.