1. SONNET 29 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ERIN SWEENEY

2. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND Born 1564, Died 1616 Famous British Playwright (38 Plays) and Poet during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Published Shakespeare’s Sonnets in 1609 – 154 sonnets, dates of creation unknown Two Contrasting Sonnet Series: uncontrollable lust for a married woman of dark complexion (the "dark lady"), conflicted love for a fair young man (the "fair youth"). Themes: meditations on the nature of love, sexual passion, procreation, success, death, and time Title Page of 1609 Edition

3. THE FIRST QUATRAIN analysis of the speaker’s initial dilemma

4. 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 Beginning = Question? Statement?

5. 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 Clarification: Speaker’s Problematic Initial Situation

6. 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 Clarifying Phrases: Initial Situation of Solitude + Despair

7. 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 Verbs: Outline Mechanisms of Despair

8. 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 Clues in Diction: Fate, Fortune, Heaven

9. Problem: Despair = Eternal Fate?

10. Rhyme, Conflicting Terms: Despair = Eternal Fate or Current (Escapable) State?