SHAKESPEARETHE SONNETS

William Shakespeare ”The Bard”

1564 – 1616

Actor

Poet (154 sonnets + other poems)

Playwright (38 plays)

Private life virtually unknown

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

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.

1 stanza of 14 linesWhen 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

3 quatrainsWhen 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,

1 couplet

And all in war with Time for love of you

As he takes from you, I engraft you new

The sonnetWhen 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 coupletmay revealthe solution

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 But soft, what light through yonder window breaks

When I consider every thing that grows When I consider every thing that grows

dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM på danskNår 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 sam me himmel,at mensker visner, mens de står i blomst,og prægtigt klædt forgår i støv og skimmel;så fører dette syn af løste båndmin tanke til din ungdoms rige skat,hvor tiden og forfaldet hånd i håndforvandler dagens gry til smudsig nat;og for min kærlighed, i kamp med tiden,indpoder jeg dig liv, som blomstrer siden.

Sonnet 15: meaningWhen 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 isHis solution?

What is he saying about decay and

death?

What does he conclude about

youth and time?