2. William Shakespeare  ”The Bard”  1564 – 1616  Actor  Poet (154 sonnets + other poems)  Playwright (38 plays)  Private life virtually unknown

3. The Renaissance  14th – 17th centuries  = ”rebirth” (from the dark Middle Ages)  Focus on:  The relationship between God and man  The hierarchy of the universe  (The Elizabethan World Picture)  Order vs chaos

4. What is a sonnet?  A poem (usual about love)  14 lines  Rhyme pattern: abab cdcd efef gg  Iambic pentameter  Rember: poems are meant to be read out loud – the more you do it, the more you understand it.

6. 1 stanza of 14 lines When I consider every thing that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows Whereon the stars in secret influence comment; When I perceive that men as plants increase, Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky, Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease, And wear their brave state out of memory; Then the conceit of this inconstant stay Sets you most rich in youth before my sight, Where wasteful Time debateth with decay To change your day of youth to sullied night, And all in war with Time for love of you As he takes from you, I engraft you new

7. 3 quatrains When I consider every thing that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows Whereon the stars in secret influence comment; When I perceive that men as plants increase, Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky, Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease, And wear their brave state out of memory; Then the conceit of this inconstant stay Sets you most rich in youth before my sight, Where wasteful Time debateth with decay To change your day of youth to sullied night,

8. 1 couplet And all in war with Time for love of you As he takes from you, I engraft you new

9. The sonnet When I consider every thing that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows Whereon the stars in secret influence comment; When I perceive that men as plants increase, Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky, Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease, And wear their brave state out of memory; Then the conceit of this inconstant stay Sets you most rich in youth before my sight, Where wasteful Time debateth with decay To change your day of youth to sullied night, And all in war with Time for love of you As he takes from you, I engraft you new The 3 quatrains can state the problem in 3 different ways The couplet may reveal the solution

10. Iambic Pentameter  dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM.  5 syllables (sounds)  5 unstressed + 5 STRESSED  Rhythm of the human heartbeat  But soft, what light through yonder window breaks  When I consider every thing that grows

11. dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM på dansk Når jeg betragter alt hvad der er til og ser hvor kort fuldkommenheden varer - at verden er en scene, fuld af spil, som himmelstjerner hemmeligt forklarer; når jeg forstår, at alt får sin bekomst, frembragt og fældet af den sam­me himmel, at mensker visner, mens de står i blomst, og prægtigt klædt forgår i støv og skimmel; så fører dette syn af løste bånd min tanke til din ungdoms rige skat, hvor tiden og forfaldet hånd i hånd forvandler dagens gry til smudsig nat; og for min kærlighed, i kamp med tiden, indpoder jeg dig liv, som blomstrer siden.

12. Sonnet 15: meaning When I consider every thing that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows Whereon the stars in secret influence comment; When I perceive that men as plants increase, Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky, Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease, And wear their brave state out of memory; Then the conceit of this inconstant stay Sets you most rich in youth before my sight, Where wasteful Time debateth with decay To change your day of youth to sullied night, And all in war with Time for love of you As he takes from you, I engraft you new What is he saying about perfection and life ? What is His solution? What is he saying about decay and death? What does he conclude about youth and time?