English Sonnets

By Evita van Amerongen G5Q Shakespearean sonnets; a sonnet is a form of poetry, a sonnet contains fourteen lines and the typical rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. These sonnets are mostly written as part of a series. What is difficult about this poems, is that there is always an underlying theme which is up to the reader to find out. The verses can be read in many different ways, you can interpret the poems literally, but also symbolic, and find out what message the writer wants to bring over with his poem. Almost everyone has a different view on his sonnets. The sonnets are hard to think about. Its difficult to understand the words and find the link between the verses.

Sonnet 40 William Shakespeare

Take all my loves, my love, yea take them all; What hast thou then more than thou hadst before? No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call; All mine was thine, before thou hadst this more. Then, if for my love, thou my love receivest, I cannot blame thee, for my love thou usest; But yet be blam'd, if thou thy self deceivest By wilful taste of what thyself refusest. I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief, Although thou steal thee all my poverty: And yet, love knows it is a greater grief To bear love's wrong, than hate's known injury. Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows, Kill me with spites yet we must not be foes

Analysis
In this sonnet, all the verses have ten syllables. This sonnet is the first of a series of three sonnets, 40, 41 and 42. The series is about a man whos extremely in love with a woman. The woman is very beloved, she gets many attention and much love. The man wants to give all his love to this woman, but he is afraid that she wont notice his (true) love, above all the love she already possesses and gains. The man is obsessed with the woman. She stole all his love, that last bit of what he had, but he forgives her robbery. But he know he has to bear this, because he cant do anything about it. You cant do anything about true love, it is nature, and everyone who experienced this, knows how it feels.

Sonnet 78 - William Shakespeare

So oft have I invoked thee for my Muse, And found such fair assistance in my verse

As every alien pen hath got my use And under thee their poesy disperse Thine eyes, that taught the dumb on high to sing, And heavy ignorance aloft to fly, Have added feathers to the learned's wing And given grace a double majesty. Yet be most proud of that which I compile, Whose influence is thine, and born of thee. In others' works thou dost but mend the style, And arts with thy sweet graces graced be. But thou art all my art, and dost advance As high as learning my rude ignorance.

Analysis
In this sonnet, the poet honours and praises his Muse. Without his Muse he would never have written such profoundly, sublime poetry. This Muse is a handsome young man for whom he feels much love, but not in a physical way. He has a dearly friendship with him. He gets inspiration, thanks to him, and his Muse has much influence on his poetry. I think the verse ` Have added feathers to the learned's wing (line 7) means that his muse added the final important details on his poetry, which makes his poems complete and just perfect. John Keats (1795-1821) is a great English poet, who wrote romantic poems. He has had a big influence on later poets and writers. Today his poems and letters are some of the most popular in English literature.

I cry your mercypitylove!aye, love! Merciful love that tantalizes not, One-thoughted, never-wandering, guileless love, Unmasked, and being seenwithout a blot! O! let me have thee whole,allallbe mine! That shape, that fairness, that sweet minor zest Of love, your kiss,those hands, those eyes divine, That warm, white, lucent, million-pleasured breast, Yourselfyour soulin pity give me all. Withhold no atoms atom or I die, Or living on perhaps, your wretched thrall, Forget, in the mist of idle misery, Lifes purposes,the palate of my mind Losing its gist, and my ambition blind!

Analysis
This poem is about Fanny Brawne, she had a love affair with John Keats. After his death, many people accused Fanny of treating him very badly. But John was

going through a depressive period when he wrote this poet, because his brother had died, he was very insecure and jealous of all the attention Fanny received. He was often away from home, and when he was away he would imagine all sorts of things that could happen behind his back. His imagination would take over, and he would write Fanny letters full of allegations. This is one of his best and famous poems. Its autobiographical poem, he expresses his emotions and desires, set off his thoughts on paper, though he keeps focusing on the sonnet and stings to the solid tone.