Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Meet the Writer William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is best known for his brilliant success as a playwright. However, had Shakespeare written no plays at all, his reputation as a poet would still have been immense. His sonnets—all 154 of them—are regarded as some of the finest poetry ever written. More About the Writer [End of Section]

Sonnets Background Shakespeare’s greatest nondramatic poetry is in a group of 154 sonnets. These sonnets have a vast richness of language and imagery show an unusual depth of perception and feeling extend beyond the conventional subject of love to a contemplation of the beauty of life and the mortality of man

Background In his first 126 sonnets, Shakespeare celebrates his devoted friendship with a young man. He considers this relationship higher and less selfish than his passionate love for the “dark lady” who is the subject of the remaining 28 sonnets. [End of Section]

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Sonnet A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem, usually about love. The English, or Shakespearean, sonnet consists of three quatrains (rhyming four-line units) followed by a couplet (a pair of rhyming lines) at the end. The three quatrains often express related ideas. The couplet sums up the poet’s message.

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Sonnet Like most sonnets, the Shakespearean sonnet is written in a particular meter, or rhythmic pattern, called iambic pentameter: Each line consists of five unstressed syllables alternating with five stressed syllables. From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate —Sonnet 29, line 12 ˘ ′ = unstressed syllable = stressed syllable ˘ ′

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Sonnet The typical rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg. First quatrain When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate —Sonnet 29, lines 1–4 a b a b

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Sonnet Shakespearean sonnets, like most all sonnets, will contain a turn or volta. The turn (volta) indicates a shift in thought or focus of the poem. Some turns are very pronounced others are more subtle. As you read the sonnets, try to locate the turn in each one.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare At the beginning of Sonnet 29, the speaker describes some volatile emotions: envy, self-pity, and self-hatred. Consider what you know about Shakespeare and about poetry. Possible response: No, I think it will have something to do with how to conquer emotions like these or how love can help the speaker feel better about himself and his life. Do you think the entire poem will be about envy and self-pity? If not, what do you think it will end up being about?

Sonnet 29 Literary Focus: Shakespearean Sonnet As you read Sonnet 29, notice where each quatrain begins and ends which words rhyme in the quatrains how the couplet is used to sum up the message [End of Section]