Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Renaissance IIRenaissance II

ShakespeareShakespeare Other WritersOther Writers

ContentsContents Explanation of sonnetExplanation of sonnet Petrarchan sonnetPetrarchan sonnet Shakespearian/English sonnetShakespearian/English sonnet Understanding and appreciatining ShakespeUnderstanding and appreciatining Shakespe

are’s Sonnet 18are’s Sonnet 18 Simple analysis of Sonnet 18Simple analysis of Sonnet 18 Shakespeare’s place and influence Shakespeare’s place and influence Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) Ben Jonson (1573 -1637) Ben Jonson (1573 -1637)

Explanation of SonnetExplanation of Sonnet What is sonnet?What is sonnet? A sonnetA sonnet is a short song in the original meani is a short song in the original meani

ng of the word. Later it became a poem of 14 lng of the word. Later it became a poem of 14 lines, with each line consisting of 10 syllables ines, with each line consisting of 10 syllables which can be broken up into five feet (pentawhich can be broken up into five feet (pentameter) of an unstressed syllable followed by a meter) of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (iambic) –hence iambic pentstressed syllable (iambic) –hence iambic pentameters. It was first written by the Italian poeameters. It was first written by the Italian poet Petrarch. Then it was introduced to England t Petrarch. Then it was introduced to England by Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. Theby Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey. There are two types of sonnets: Shakespearian or re are two types of sonnets: Shakespearian or Elizabethan or English sonnet and PetrarchaElizabethan or English sonnet and Petrarchan sonnets. What clearly distinguishes the two,n sonnets. What clearly distinguishes the two, however, is the rhyming schem. however, is the rhyming schem.

Petrarchan Sonnet (a literary tPetrarchan Sonnet (a literary term)erm)

In this kind of sonnet, there are two paIn this kind of sonnet, there are two parts. The first eight lines, called an octarts. The first eight lines, called an octave, present an argument with a rhyminve, present an argument with a rhyming scheme of abba abba, g scheme of abba abba, Or:Or: abba cddc abba cddc Or:Or: abab cdcd; the last six lines, called abab cdcd; the last six lines, called a sestet, present another argument, fola sestet, present another argument, following a rhyming scheme cde cde, or: lowing a rhyming scheme cde cde, or: efefef. There is no rhyming couplet. efefef. There is no rhyming couplet.

Shakespearian Sonnet (a literary tShakespearian Sonnet (a literary term)erm)

In sonnets of this kind, the first three qIn sonnets of this kind, the first three quatrains have a distinct rhyming schemuatrains have a distinct rhyming scheme like abab cdcd efef, or: abba cddc effe,e like abab cdcd efef, or: abba cddc effe, and ends with a couplet and ends with a couplet rhyming gg. In rhyming gg. In the three quatrains the theme is put forthe three quatrains the theme is put forward and developed, and in the couplet ward and developed, and in the couplet thethe sonnet ends with a surprise conclussonnet ends with a surprise conclusion or a shift of ideas. So Shakespeare’ion or a shift of ideas. So Shakespeare’s sonnet is called English sonnet. s sonnet is called English sonnet.

Petrarchan sonnet Petrarchan sonnet ShakespearianShakespearian so sonnetnnet

∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a) (a)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a) (a)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b) (b)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b) (b)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b) (a)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b) (a)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a) (b)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a) (b)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (c) (c) -∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (c) (c) (An octave: the(An octave: the∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (d) (d) -∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (d) (d) first argumenfirst argumen

t)t)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (d) (c)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (d) (c)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- -∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (c)(a) (c) (d) (d) ↓ ↓∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (e)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (e)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (f)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (f)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (e)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (e)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (f) -∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (f) (a sestet: the ot(a sestet: the ot

herher∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (e) -∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (e) argument)argument)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (f)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (f)

∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (a)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (b)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (b)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (a) (b)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (a)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (b) (a)

∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (c)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (c)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (d)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (d)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (d)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (c) (d)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (c)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (d) (c) ↓ ↓∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (e)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (e)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (f) (f)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (f) (f)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (f)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (e) (f)∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (f) (e)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (f) (e) ∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (g) (g)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (g) (g) ∨∨-∨-∨-∨-∨- (g) (g)-∨-∨-∨-∨- (g) (g)

Introduction to Shakespeare’s soIntroduction to Shakespeare’s sonnetsnnets

The first 17 sonnets are written to a young man, urgThe first 17 sonnets are written to a young man, urging him to marry and have children,thereby passing ing him to marry and have children,thereby passing down his beauty to the next generation. These are cdown his beauty to the next generation. These are called the alled the procreation sonnetsprocreation sonnets. Most of them, howev. Most of them, however, er, 1818--126126, are addressed to a young man expressing , are addressed to a young man expressing the poet's love for him. Sonnets the poet's love for him. Sonnets 127127--152152 are written are written to a “dark lady”, expressing his strong love for heto a “dark lady”, expressing his strong love for her. The final two sonnets, r. The final two sonnets, 153153--154154, are allegorical. Th, are allegorical. The final thirty or so sonnets are written about a numbe final thirty or so sonnets are written about a number of issues, such as the young man's infidelity with er of issues, such as the young man's infidelity with the poet's mistress, self-resolution to control his owthe poet's mistress, self-resolution to control his own lust, beleaguered criticism of the world, etc.n lust, beleaguered criticism of the world, etc.

Understanding and appreciating SonnUnderstanding and appreciating Sonnet 18et 18

Analysis of content and meaning:Analysis of content and meaning: The 1st line begins with a question: Shall I cThe 1st line begins with a question: Shall I c

ompare thee to a summer’s day?ompare thee to a summer’s day? The seco The second line “Thou art more lovely and more tend line “Thou art more lovely and more temperate” is positive as well as negative to mperate” is positive as well as negative to the first line. It affirms that the author like the first line. It affirms that the author like to “compare thee to a summer’s day”, bto “compare thee to a summer’s day”, but you are “more lovely and temperate”. ut you are “more lovely and temperate”. A summer’s day can not match your beautA summer’s day can not match your beauty. This is the negative implication. y. This is the negative implication.

This line ends with a colon that indicates thThis line ends with a colon that indicates that the following at the following lines(the next four lines 3, lines(the next four lines 3, 4, 5and 6) will tell why a summer’s day ca4, 5and 6) will tell why a summer’s day can not match “thee”.n not match “thee”. Because “Rough wi Because “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,/And nds do shake the darling buds of May,/And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:/Ssummer’s lease hath all too short a date:/Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,/ometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,/And is often is his gold complexion dimmeAnd is often is his gold complexion dimmed:/. Lines 7 and 8 states a forever truth: And d:/. Lines 7 and 8 states a forever truth: And every fair from fair sometime declines,/By every fair from fair sometime declines,/By chance, or nature’s changing course untrichance, or nature’s changing course untrimmed:/mmed:/

The main idea of this sonnet lies in the next The main idea of this sonnet lies in the next four linesfour lines (9, 10, 11 and 12). (9, 10, 11 and 12). The coupletThe couplet in t in the end gives the reason and offers the conditihe end gives the reason and offers the condition to the above four lines: “So long as men con to the above four lines: “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,/So long lives this, an breathe or eyes can see,/So long lives this, and this gives life to thee”. and this gives life to thee”. “Eternal summe“Eternal summer”r” in line 9 is a metaphor, referring to “thy in line 9 is a metaphor, referring to “thy eternal beauty”. The sonnet not only praises eternal beauty”. The sonnet not only praises the beauty of the author’s beauty, but also tthe beauty of the author’s beauty, but also the eternity of poetry. Shakespeare achieves the eternity of poetry. Shakespeare achieves the goal of serving a double purpose. He makehe goal of serving a double purpose. He makes the beauty of his friend motionless, into the s the beauty of his friend motionless, into the poem so that the beauty is distillated and eterpoem so that the beauty is distillated and eternalized. nalized.

The difference between “a summer’s The difference between “a summer’s day”of nature and “thy eternal summday”of nature and “thy eternal summer”is that summer of nature will disapper”is that summer of nature will disappear with time going,i.e. the beauty of suear with time going,i.e. the beauty of summer in nature can not exist forever. Smmer in nature can not exist forever. Summer’s beauty is fleeting there in natummer’s beauty is fleeting there in nature once a year; however, “thy eternal ure once a year; however, “thy eternal summer” is not that way. Your beauty summer” is not that way. Your beauty will exist forever, never decaying, becauwill exist forever, never decaying, because you live in this poem that will live as lse you live in this poem that will live as long as there are human beings.ong as there are human beings.

Simple analysis of Sonnet 18Simple analysis of Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a suShall I compare thee to a summer's day? mmer's day?

Thou art more lovely and mThou art more lovely and more temperate: ore temperate:

Rough winds do shake the dRough winds do shake the darling buds of May, arling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all And summer's lease hath all too short a date: too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, heaven shines,

And often is his gold compleAnd often is his gold complexion dimm'd; xion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair somAnd every fair from fair sometime declines, etime declines,

By chance or nature's changBy chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; ing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shalBut thy eternal summer shall not fade l not fade

Nor lose possession of that fNor lose possession of that fair thou owest; air thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wNor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, ander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to timWhen in eternal lines to time thou growest: e thou growest:

So long as men can breathe So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, or eyes can see,

So long lives this and this giSo long lives this and this gives life to theeves life to thee

This is probably one of the most famous of all This is probably one of the most famous of all sonnets. But it does dot stand in isolation. It is sonnets. But it does dot stand in isolation. It is linked with so many of Shakespeare’s other linked with so many of Shakespeare’s other sonnets through the themes of the descriptive sonnets through the themes of the descriptive power of verse: the ability of the poet to depicpower of verse: the ability of the poet to depict the fair youth adequately; and the immortalitt the fair youth adequately; and the immortality that lives in these “eternal lines”. It is notiy that lives in these “eternal lines”. It is noticeable that here the poet is full of confidence tceable that here the poet is full of confidence that his verse will live as long as there are peophat his verse will live as long as there are people living on the Earth, whereas later he apologle living on the Earth, whereas later he apologizes for his poor wit and his humble lines whiizes for his poor wit and his humble lines which are inadequate to express ch are inadequate to express

All the youth’s excellence. Now, perhaps in tAll the youth’s excellence. Now, perhaps in the early days of his love, there is no such self-he early days of his love, there is no such self-doubt and the eternal summer of the youth is doubt and the eternal summer of the youth is preserved forever in the poet’s lines. The popreserved forever in the poet’s lines. The poem also works to achieve its objective through em also works to achieve its objective through dispraise. The summer’s day is found to be ldispraise. The summer’s day is found to be lacking in so many respects (too short, too hot, acking in so many respects (too short, too hot, too rough, sometimes too dingy), but curiousltoo rough, sometimes too dingy), but curiously enough one is left with the impression that ty enough one is left with the impression that the young man is in fact like a summer’s day he young man is in fact like a summer’s day at its best, fair, warm,sunny, temperate, one oat its best, fair, warm,sunny, temperate, one of the darling buds of May, and that all his beaf the darling buds of May, and that all his beauty has been wonderfully highlighted by this cuty has been wonderfully highlighted by this comparisonomparison. The poet’s main concern here is . The poet’s main concern here is Beauty and Poetry.Beauty and Poetry.

Shakespeare’s place and influShakespeare’s place and influenceence

He has been universally acknowledged to be tHe has been universally acknowledged to be the summit of the English Renaissance, the grehe summit of the English Renaissance, the greatest of all dramatists the world overatest of all dramatists the world over

His influence upon English language and thouHis influence upon English language and thought is beyond calculation: all English writers oght is beyond calculation: all English writers of any importance cannot escape from his influf any importance cannot escape from his influence either directly or indirectly, either in thoence either directly or indirectly, either in thought, content or in dramatic form or language; ught, content or in dramatic form or language; he also exerted influence upon many writers ihe also exerted influence upon many writers in other countries through his various translatin other countries through his various translations of his works.ons of his works.

Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) His writings are remembered for two things: (p64)His writings are remembered for two things: (p64) He is among the earliest English essayists and He is among the earliest English essayists and is regardeis regarde

d the founder of English essays, the founder of English d the founder of English essays, the founder of English materialist philosophy and the founder of modern scienmaterialist philosophy and the founder of modern science in England.ce in England.

His major works: (p65) His major works: (p65) 1. The subjects of his essays:1. The subjects of his essays: (The last paragraph of p65) (The last paragraph of p65)2. His 2. His Essays:Essays: EssaysEssays was the first of its kind to appear in was the first of its kind to appear in

English literature. Of the 58 essays in its final edition, mEnglish literature. Of the 58 essays in its final edition, more than half are about public life and public duty.ore than half are about public life and public duty.

The features of theThe features of the Essays Essays:: They are famous for their b They are famous for their brevity, compactness and powerfulness.revity, compactness and powerfulness.

Ben Jonson (1573 -1637) Ben Jonson (1573 -1637) Ben Jonson was the last great ElizabethBen Jonson was the last great Elizabeth

an and probably an and probably the first poet laureatthe first poet laureatee (1616). (1616).

His major works: His universally acknHis major works: His universally acknowledged masterpieces are the comediowledged masterpieces are the comedies: es: Volpone or the Fox Volpone or the Fox and and The AlcheThe Alchemist .mist .He arrived at the full maturity of He arrived at the full maturity of his dramatic powers with his dramatic powers with VolponeVolpone. .

AssignmentsAssignments Written work:Written work:1.1. Define the terms: Petrarchan Sonnet, ShakespDefine the terms: Petrarchan Sonnet, Shakesp

earian Sonnetearian Sonnet2.2. What is the main concern of the poet in SonneWhat is the main concern of the poet in Sonne

t 18 by Shakespeare?t 18 by Shakespeare?3.3. What is the difference between the “summeWhat is the difference between the “summe

r’s day” of nature and “thy eternal summer’s day” of nature and “thy eternal summer”?r”?

4.4. What kinds of founders is Francis Bacon called?What kinds of founders is Francis Bacon called?5.5. Tell the features of Francis Bacon”s Tell the features of Francis Bacon”s Esays.Esays.

Topics for discussionTopics for discussion1.1. How many groups are there in ShakeHow many groups are there in Shake

speare’s sonnets?speare’s sonnets?2.2. The influence of Shakespeare on worThe influence of Shakespeare on wor

ld literature.ld literature. Oral work Oral work Memeorizing Sonnet 18 by ShakespeareMemeorizing Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare

Too short a dateToo short a date