William Shakespeare – Sonnet 29

Pops Chiarappa, Tyler Roeder, Mitch Washburn

Sonnet 29When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Sonnet 29 (Lines 1-2)

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state I feel ashamed about my lack of wealth,

I am concerned with how others view me I am not content with my current wealth and lifestyle

Literary Devices Assonance Consonance

Sonnet 29 (Lines 3-4)

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries

And look upon myself and curse my fate, I am crying and shouting to the heavens about my

misfortunes And I curse my life

Literary Devices Assonance Consonance

Sonnet 29 (Lines 5-6)

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends

possess'd, I wish I was rich like the other men Also desiring to be popular and have many friends

Literary Devices Anadiplosis Consonance Assonance

Sonnet 29 (Lines 7-8)

Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least; I desire the traits and status of other men The things I enjoy most in life, I lack the most

Literary Devices Consonance Assonance Alliteration

Sonnet 29 (Lines 9-10)

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

REVERSAL I start to detest my previous thoughts I start to think about the girl and become happy

Literary Devices Consonance

Sonnet 29 (Lines 11-12)

Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's

gate;

My state of mind changes like the beginning of a new day I have somewhat of a spiritual experience

Literary Devices Simile Consonance

Sonnet 29 (Lines 13 – 14)For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth

brings That then I scorn to change my state with

kings.

Her love is my true wealth I believe that through this love I am richer than a king

Literary Devices Consonance Alliteration

Sonnet 29 QuestionsQuestion 1:

What is the speaker’s state of mind in the following lines:

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Question 1

The speaker is jealous of the wealth and possessions of other men. His envy leads to a depressed demeanor, which is evident in his self-lamentation and appeals to the heavens.

Question 2

Question 2:

What is striking about the comparison in lines

10 to 12?

Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's

gate;

Question 2 The speaker’s viewpoint changes in these lines.

He realizes that material wealth should not be his greatest priority. He appreciates the value of the love he receives from his significant other. This change is emphasized through the use of simile. The scene of a lark singing at the break of day represents change, or a new beginning. The transition from earth to heaven represents a spiritual, Godly experience from humble beginning. Lines 10 to 12 reveal the turn in this sonnet as the speaker’s thoughts and personality are rapidly altered.

Question 3

Question 3

How much of the content of this sonnet is

limited to Shakespeare's era, and how much is

still appropriate today?

Question 3

This poem is relevant because it reveals the

extent of human emotion. It emphasizes the

feelings of jealousy and envy, combated by the

magnitude of love. This sonnet also displays

the ability of the individual to change.

Theme

The theme of Sonnet 29 is to show the importance of love. Money, society, and possessions are displayed as inferior components of humanity. The speaker changes to embrace the value of love which makes him superior to a king and those of higher social classes.