Brenna Smudde

Pd.5

Sonnet 29 Author: William Shakespeare

Overview:

Man cursing his fate because he is an outcast. He feels that no one

is listening to him or caring about him. Then he thinks about his

love and becomes happy and grateful of what he has. The poem

finished with him saying he wouldnt change anything about his life.

Text from Sonnet 29 Explanation/Analysis

(speaking as the author) When, in disgrace with fortune and

men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state

When I feel unlucky and unpopular, I

cry alone about the fact that I am an

outcast.

And trouble deaf heaven with my

bootless cries

And look upon myself and curse my

fate

I cry out, but even heaven cannot hear

me, so I look at my unhappy state and

curse my fate.

Wishing me like to one more rich in

hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends

possess'd,

Desiring this man's art and that man's

scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

I wish I was like the men with more

hope or with better looks or with lots

of friends around them. I want that

mans skill and that man knowledge. Also I can no longer enjoy the things I

used to find enjoyable.

Yet in these thoughts myself almost

despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my

state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth, sings hymns at

heaven's gate;

Although with these thoughts of

hating myself, by chance I think of

you (my love) and then my feelings,

change like the coming of day/

sunrise, I then feel free and happy.

For thy sweet love remember'd such

wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state

with kings.

Remembering your (my loves) love brings me such great things/feelings

Then I do not want to change my

place with the other men even if they

are kings.

Brenna Smudde

Pd.5

Literary Devices: Personification: deaf heaven, Heaven is not actually deaf, but the speaker says that heaven is because he feels no one, even in heaven, is hearing him.

Repetition: like him and mans in lines 6 and 7, This emphasizes that he wants to me like the other men other than remaining like himself

Alliteration: think, thee, then in line 11 Symbolism: the lark at break of day arising Symbolizes the change of mood in the poem.

Rhyme: follows pattern: abab cdcd ebeb ff, ex. state, fate, gate and brings, kings The use of rhyme is very common in sonnets.

Tone: The tone of this sonnet is melancholy and upset. This melancholy, upset tone

shows how bad the speaker feels. Towards then end of the poem the speakers mood changes and so does the tone. The town shifts from melancholy and upset

to happy and gracious.

Theme: The theme of this sonnet is the feeling of love can overpower the feelings of self-

hate. The poem conveys this theme well because it starts with the speaker talking

about how much he dislikes his life. The speaker sites many examples of why this

is how he feels. Then the speaker talks about how he by change thinks about his

love and it lifts his spirits.