Shakespeare’s SonnetsShakespeare’s Sonnets

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

Meet the WriterMeet the Writer

[End of Section]

Shakespeare’s greatest nondramatic poetry is in a group of 154 sonnets. These sonnets

Sonnets BackgroundSonnets Background

• 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

In his first 126 sonnets, Shakespeare celebrates his devoted friendship with a young man.

BackgroundBackground

[End of Section]

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.

A sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem, usually about love.

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Literary Focus: Shakespearean SonnetSonnet

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.

Each line consists of five unstressed syllables alternating with five stressed syllables.

Like most sonnets, the Shakespearean sonnet is written in a particular meter, or rhythmic pattern, called iambic pentameter:

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Literary Focus: Shakespearean SonnetSonnet

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate—Sonnet 29, line 12

˘ ′ ˘ ′ ˘ ′ ˘ ′ ˘ ′

= unstressed syllable = stressed syllable˘ ′

The typical rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg.

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Literary Focus: Shakespearean SonnetSonnet

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

First quatrain

bab

a

Literary Focus: Shakespearean Literary Focus: Shakespearean SonnetSonnet

Shakespearean sonnets, like most all Shakespearean sonnets, like most all sonnets, will contain a sonnets, will contain a turnturn or or voltavolta. .

The The turnturn ( (voltavolta) indicates a shift in ) indicates a shift in thought or focus of the poem.thought or focus of the poem.

Some turns are very pronounced Some turns are very pronounced others are more subtle.others are more subtle.

As you read the sonnets, try to locate As you read the sonnets, try to locate the turn in each one.the turn in each one.

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.

Sonnet 29 Sonnet 29 byby William Shakespeare William Shakespeare

• 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?

As you read Sonnet 29, notice

Sonnet 29Sonnet 29Literary Focus: Shakespearean Literary Focus: Shakespearean

SonnetSonnet

• 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]