The Temple of Glass

"The Temple of Glass" by John Lydgate is a symbolic poem from the late 15th century that blends dreams and reality to examine love, desire, and divine influence. A narrator journeys in a dream to a glass temple, where famous lovers share stories of happiness and sadness; the poem centers on the narrator’s connection with a beautiful woman who posseses beauty and kindness. With Venus, goddess of love, overseeing, the poem explores important lessons of patience, loyalty, and dealing with the struggles that come before love triumphs. It captures a sense of longing and optimism, showing Lydgate's fascination with classical ideas and feelings relevant during the English Renaissance.