1. Sonnet 144 To investigate the identity of Shakespeare’s muses
To explore and understand Shakespeare’s use of language in Sonnet 144

2. A Muse
The Muses are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts in Greek mythology.
They were considered the source of the knowledge used in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths of ancient cultures.
Muse can refer in general to a person who inspires an artist, writer, or musician.

3. What is Shakespeare saying in this sonnet?
Two loves I have, of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is a man right fair; The worser spirit a woman coloured ill. To win me soon to hell my female evil Tempteth my better angel from my side, And would corrupt my saint to be a devil, Wooing his purity with her foul pride. And whether that my angel be turned fiend Suspect I may, yet not directly tell, But being both from me, both to each friend, I guess one angel in another's hell.     Yet this shall I ne'er know, but live in doubt,     Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
What is Shakespeare saying in this sonnet?

4. What is 144 about?
One view (originated in 19th Century) is that all of Shakespeare’s sonnets contain autobiographical information about him.
Sonnet 144 is thought to be about Shakespeare being caught in love triangle between the Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

5. Subject of Shakespeare’s Sonnets
The Poet:
It is assumed the speaker is Shakespeare himself.
The Fair Youth:
“A man right fair”
Sonnets are about this same person.
The Dark Lady:
“a woman coloured ill”
Sonnets are about this same person: the Dark Lady

6. Thomas Thorpe, the publisher
Who is Mr W.H.?
The dedication page
Thomas Thorpe, the publisher

7. Shakespeare's Fair Youth
Candidate No. 1
Sonnets 1-126
Assumed by many that the Fair Youth is the same Mr W.H. in the dedication (though this is not proven)
William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke
Shakespeare dedicated his First
Folio to him
Initials make sense (Mr W.H.), but
Earls are not addressed as “Mr”

8. Shakespeare's Fair Youth
Candidate No. 2
Sonnets 1-126
Henry Wriothesley (“Rose-ley”), Earl of Southampton
Shakespeare already dedicated
two other poems to him (proven)
Did Shakespeare reverse his
initials in an attempt to be
discreet? (H.W.  Mr W.H. ?)
Earls are not addressed as “Mr”

9. Shakespeare's Dark Lady
Sonnets
So called because Shakespeare repeatedly
references her “dark” hair, eyes and skin. (This was a time when almost everyone in England was white, and most were fair-haired.)
She was not his wife, Anne Hathaway.
A few names have been suggested,
mostly aristocrats/relatives of Queen
Elizabeth I
Was she real or a figment of
Shakespeare’s imagination?

10. Muses in Sonnet 144
Highlight everything about/directed to the ‘Fair Youth’ in one colour
Highlight everything about/directed to the ‘Dark Lady’ in a different colour.
How does the poet feel about each person?
Which person does he feel more strongly about, and why?
Does he “love” both of them? If so, does he love them the same way or differently?

11. What are Shakespeare’s feelings toward his muses?
Compare the language used when speaking about the Fair Youth & Dark Lady
Remember to include in each blended PEELA:
Connectives to link the two different paragraphs
Two point, including the techniques used and their purpose.
At least two pieces of evidence that support the points
An explanation of the figurative and literal meaning of both pieces of evidence
An analysis of the language used, including the connotations of keywords
An analysis of the techniques used, including the effect of the techniques
An analysis of the Shakespeare's intentions, including their effect on the reader
An explanation of how the two pieces of evidence are similar and/or different