Hermann-Vöchting-Gymnasium, Blomberg

Shakespeare's sonnets were first mentioned in 1598 by a Cambridge schoolmaster. The full sequence of 154 sonnets was first published in 1609. Today, it is gnerally agreed that Shakespeare wrote the sonnets between 1590 and 1594.

Some people claim that they are purely fictitious and that Shakespeare was using his imagination and poetic skills to deal with fairly traditional themes. Others argue that the sonnets record events in Shakespeare's life and reflect his true thoughts and feelings.

If we read the sonnets in the given order, they tell the following story:

Sonnets 1 - 126 are written to a young man; Sonnets 127 - 154 concern a woman, who has come to be known as "the dark lady".

The speaker in the poems becomes increasingly friendly with the young man, who is of a high social rank. At first, the speaker simply urges the young man to marry and have children. However, as his feelings become more intense, he expresses the desire to immortalize his friend in verse. The dark lady causes the speaker some emotional pain. She is his mistress but is unfaithful to him, both with the young man and others. The sonnets criticize both her looks and morals.

How to ... start off the analysis and discussion of a Shakespeare sonnet

This might be a helpful framework:

• What is your general impression of what the sonnet is about?
• Who is speaking? To whom?
• Is there a dominant image, a set of imagery or a variety of imagery?
• What is the sonnet's tone or mood?
• Is there a 'turn' where the mood or meaning changes?
• Which words, phrases or lines appeal to you the most?
• Which words or lines do you find difficult?

Tasks for written homework on Sonnet 18

1. Identify the speaker and the person addressed and outline the communication situation.
2. Analyse the imagery in the sonnet in detail. Then say if it is a typical Shakespearean sonnet or not. Give reasons.
3. Imagine the person addressed in Sonnet 18 replies to the speaker's words in a letter. Write this letter.