The “sea” commonplace takes many forms in these two epics. The parameters used in tracking the commonplace for this visual representation are as follows:
- Every instance of the word “sea” was included
- In Paradise Lost, at present, instances of specific names of seas (i.e. the Jasper Sea) were excluded due to time constraints
- Instances of “waue(s)” or “billowe(s)” used in extended metaphors or similes (specific to The Faerie Queene)
- Other instances of “waue(s)” or “billowe(s)” not involving a metaphor were excluded
*At present, the data goes through Book II of The Faerie Queene and Book VII of Paradise Lost.
