Discuss the use of sonnets through the ages.
Discuss the use of sonnets through the ages. Sonnets became a popular form of poetry from the sixteenth century onwards in Elizabethan England. Although the sonnet originated from Sicily sometime in the thirteenth century, over time it developed into three types, Petrachan, Spenserian and Shakespearian. The sonnet can always be recognised by its fourteen lines, traditionally of iambic pentameter with a clear rhyme. Sonnets often discuss different themes and attitudes of the periods of time they were written in. Many sonnets of Elizabethan England, were written by perhaps the most famous poet of that time, William Shakespeare, hence the English sonnet was named after him. Sonnets proved very popular around this time. The Shakespearian sonnet can be described as a romantic, dramatic and often clichéd portrayal of love. Sir Philip Sydney's sonnet 'with how sad steps, O moon thou climb'st the skies!' is a depressing story of a young man's heartbreaking experience with the person he loves. He considers that everything in the surrounding area is joining him in his mourning and he even begins to consult the moon about his recent troubles. He speaks harshly of women and how they do not want to love someone but yet want to be loved. This sonnet is typical of the era in which it was written because it shows us an exaggeration of love and a mourning of lost love.. The atmosphere
The Dark Lady in ShakespeareŒs Sonnets.
The Dark Lady in Shakespeare´s Sonnets Index Introduction page 3 The Identification of the Dark Lady page 4 Epilogue page 11 Bibliography page 13 Introduction More than three and a half centuries ago there was a small volume, entitled "Shakespeare´s Sonnets: Never Before Imprinted", published in London. It contains 2155 lines and 1055 rhymes. There are 154 short poems, all except three which are regular sonnets of fourteen ten syllables lines and also a narrative poem called "A Lovers Complaint". Most of the first 126 sonnets are clearly addressed to a young man (most likely Mr.W.H., who is mentioned in the dedication, see p.7), and seem to form one sequence, which is terminated by a poem of six couplets, not in sonnet form, which tells the story of a girl who has been seduced and abandoned by an attractive but hartless young man.1 Of the remaining twenty-eight, all except 129 and 146, in which the poet moralises on the themes of lust and human vanity, appear to have been written either to or about a mistress. She seems to be the same women referred to in the sonnets 33-35 and 40-42, which deal with a wrong done to the poet by his friend.2 The Sonnets 127-154 tell us about the theft of Shakespeare´s mistress by another man.3 The mistress is described as being black in her hair as well as in her eyes, her skin is dun, she has neither red lips nor rosy
Compare and contrast the two sonnets "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and "Sonnet 130".
Compare and contrast the two sonnets "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and "Sonnet 130" This essay is based on two sonnets, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" and "Sonnet 130", both of which are written by William Shakespeare. Although the poems are different to each other, they both come across as having the same meaning. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" is a traditional, romantic love poem of the seventeenth century. The purpose behind the poem is to flatter women. In the poem, Shakespeare compares his love to a summer's day. The way he does this is by highlighting all the negative points about summer and saying that she is much better. He beguiles her into thinking that in comparison to a day of summer she is much more extravagant. On the other hand "Sonnet 130" contradicts this poem. In "Sonnet 130" Shakespeare mentions all the bad points about his mistress in comparison with the small beauties in the world. This may sound as though he is unromantic towards his mistress, but he says that despite his mistress not being perfect, he still loves her as she is 'rare'. In this poem he is very critical towards other sonnets, for being over exaggerated and unrealistic to flatter women, as he feels it doesn't do women any justice. The irony about this is that, "Shall I compare thee..." is written by Shakespeare in a traditional form as well as
Shakespearian Love Sonnets.
Pre-20th Century Poetry Shakespearian Love Sonnets Whilst reading the play, 'Romeo and Juliet', I encountered many beautiful images of love and many comparisons to objects to highlight a person's beauty. In the play, when Romeo first sees Juliet, he is overwhelmed by her utter beauty. He says: "O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear- Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear: So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows." The first line conveys the message that Juliet really stands out from the other people at the party and is so "bright" and beautiful that she teaches torches to burn bright. The second comparison is to a "rich jewel" in an Ethiop's ear. A contrast between light and dark is used here as the rich jewel is a bright shiny object used to represent Juliet, which would really stand out from the dark skin of an Ethiopian. The third comparison in the final line of what Romeo says compares Juliet to a "snowy white dove trooping with crows". This is an effective comparison as doves are white birds and would really stand out if they flew alongside black crows. Later in the play, Juliet describes her love to be "boundless as the sea" and also says: "This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet." The first image of her love tells
How were some sonnets used to express different views on love?
How were some sonnets used to express different views on love? For hundreds of years poets have used the sonnet to express their feelings, usually placing emphasis on the theme of courtly love. It is estimated that the earliest sonnets date from around 1200 AD, and they were probably sung as expressions of romantic love in Italian courtyards. As the sonnet moved from country to country different poets attempted to ‘make it their own’, causing the variation of sonnets we are now familiar with; namely the Petrarchan, Shakespearean and Spenserian sonnet. One of the most acclaimed sonneteers is Shakespeare, who wrote one hundred and fifty-four sonnets that were published between 1599 and 1609. From these many sonnets the one Shakespeare is most remembered for is Sonnet 18, sometimes referred to as ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’ due to the opening line. The sonnet is in keeping with the traditional views of courtly love, where the man tried to win over the woman in whichever way he could, being described as a ‘highly conventionalised code of conduct for lovers’. This sonnet takes the form of a Shakespearean sonnet - the first of which were composed by Sir Thomas Wyat (1503-1542) and Henry Howard (1517-1547) – written in iambic pentameter, containing three four-line quatrains with a strict rhyme scheme and an ending rhyming couplet. Shakespeare uses
Compare William Shakespeare’s sonnets 12 and 73, look closely at the language use to convey the writer’s realisation of death
Compare William Shakespeare's sonnets 12 and 73, look closely at the language use to convey the writer's realisation of death Sonnet 12 When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; When I behold the violet past prime, And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white; When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, And summer's green all girded up in sheaves Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard, Then of thy beauty do I question make, That thou among the wastes of time must go, Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake And die as fast as they see others grow; And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence. Sonnet 73 That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou seest the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by. This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, To love that
Compare William Shakespeare's sonnets 12 and 73
Sonnet 12 When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; When I behold the violet past prime, And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white; When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, And summer's green all girded up in sheaves Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard, Then of thy beauty do I question make, That thou among the wastes of time must go, Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake And die as fast as they see others grow; And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence. Sonnet 73 That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou seest the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by. This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long. Compare William Shakespeare's sonnets 12 and 73, look closely at the language use to convey
Love in Romeo and Juliet and Sonnets 18, 29 and 130.
Shakespeare is reputed to be one of the most eloquent and influential writer, poet, actor and playwright in English Literature. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Shakespeare, Shakespeare was part of a successful middle class family. He grew up in a time where poetry and acting was at an all-time high which helped towards him leading a very successful profession. Throughout his career, he wrote 36 plays and 154 sonnets, four of which will be delved into in this essay. These four are his play “Romeo and Juliet” and sonnets “18, 29 and 130”. These works of art are a few examples of how Shakespeare uses his clever wit, brilliant mind and his deep understanding of human emotions to show the feelings of romantic love, requited and unrequited. These texts also portray Shakespeare's mastery over the English language, successfully stirring deep emotions within the reader through his subtle manipulation of language, grammar and structure. This essay will delve into how romantic love is presented throughout the four writings and will compare how it is presented to the reader. Firstly, Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, is one of the most famous romantic tragedy stories in English Literature. A story with love being the most influential and imperative theme, a force of nature that supersedes all other values and emotions. The plot revolves around to
From the sonnets you have studied compare and comment upon three poems, explain why you think they are successful show which you prefered and why.
FROM THE SONNETS YOU HAVE STUDIED, COMPARE AND COMMENT UPON THREE POEMS. EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. SHOW WHICH YOU PREFERED AND WHY. Before I compare these sonnets I must understand exactly what a sonnet is. A sonnet is a type of poem, which poets often use to express their feelings. The themes of most sonnets are subjects such as war and death or love and happiness. Sonnets are useful because the poet can tell the reader what they want to say in just fourteen short lines. The person who wrote the first sonnet is unknown but the form of the sonnet originated in Italy in the thirteenth century, a long time before Shakespeare was born. The sonnet first reached England in the sixteenth century courtesy of Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. Sonnets are a form of poem, which are different from all others. They always consist of fourteen lines, and each line has ten syllables. Each line also has a regular pattern where the first syllable is unstressed and is then followed by a stressed syllable. Once this is repeated five times in each line it is known as an iambic pentameter. The most famous form of sonnet is the Shakespearean sonnet and is known as this because it is the pattern that Shakespeare used for many of his sonnets. The sonnets that I have chosen are all Shakespearean and written by Shakespeare. I am going to compare three sonnets
Examine the literary tradition of sonnet writing with particular reference to the sonnets of William Shakespeare.
Examine the literary tradition of sonnet writing with particular reference to the sonnets of William Shakespeare. Introduction Sonnets are poems which have been written for many centuries by the like of William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth and John Milton amongst many others. Although each sonnet is fourteen lines long there are still at least two categories into which a sonnet can fall. The first is the Shakespearean, Elizabethan or English sonnet. These sonnets were started in the Elizabethan period by, most notably, William Shakespeare who wrote over one hundred and fifty sonnets. The form is still used today, thanks to the likes of Claude McKay. The Shakespearean sonnet is composed of three quatrains and ends with a rhyming couplet. The traditional rhyme scheme for a Shakespearean sonnet is; a, b, a, b, c, d, c, d, e, f, e, f, g, g. The metre in a Shakespearean sonnet is usually iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line). The main topic in a Shakespearean sonnet is love, as William Shakespeare, Sidney and Spencer wrote. But it can also be used to show other emotions. For example, Claude McKay used the Shakespearean sonnet to illustrate what the black people of his time were going through in "If We Must Die" and "The Lynching". The other category into which a sonnet can fall is the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet. These were also written in the Elizabethan era, but