Page 216 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University Unit 23: Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Unit 23: Shakespeare’s Sonnets Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
23.1 Shakespeare as a Poet

23.1.1 A Lover’s Complaint
23.1.2 Venus and Adonis

23.1.3 The Rape of Lucrece
23.1.4 The Phoenix and the Turtle

23.1.5 The Passionate Pilgrim
23.2 Sonnets: Being your Slave what should I do but Tend

23.3 Thou Blind Fool, that Time of Year Thou Mayst in me Behold, what Dost Thou to
Mine Eyes

23.4 Summary
23.5 Keywords
23.6 Review Questions

23.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Consider Shakespeare as a poet
• Describe the introduction to sonnets
• Discuss the sonnet-Being your slave what should I do but tend
• Discuss the sonnet–Thou blind fool, that time of year thou mayst in me behold, what dost
thou to mine eyes.

Introduction

William Shakespeare, baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616 was an English poet and playwright,
widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.
He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon”. His surviving works, including
some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several
other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed
more often than those of any other playwright.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne
Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamlet and Judith. Between

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 209