Download pdf - Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 29 and As You Like Itby William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Born: Baptised 26 April 1564

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Died: 23 April 1616 (aged 52)

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Chandos Portrait

Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His

early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as

some of the best work produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until

about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth, considered some of

the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also

known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

First Folio

first collected edition of

Shakespeare's plays without

which there would be no

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 29

Published in 1609, the Sonnets were the last of Shakespeare's non-dramatic worksto be printed. Scholars are not certain when each of the 154 sonnets was composed,but evidence suggests that Shakespeare wrote sonnets throughout his career for aprivate readership.

Sonnet 29 shows the poet at his most insecure and troubled. He feels unlucky,shamed, and fiercely jealous of those around him. What causes the poet's anguish willremain a mystery; as will the answer to whether the sonnets are autobiographical.

by : William Shakespeare

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,

Featur'd 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

PARAPHRASE

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

When I’ve fallen out of favor with fortune and men,

I all alone beweep my outcast state

All alone I weep over my position as a social outcast,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And pray to heaven, but my cries go unheard,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

And I look at myself, cursing my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Wishing I were like one who had more hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,

Wishing I looked like him; wishing I were surrounded by

friends,

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

Wishing I had this man's skill and that man's freedom.

With what I most enjoy contented least;

I am least contented with what I used to enjoy most.

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

But, with these thoughts – almost despising myself,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

I, by chance, think of you and then my melancholy

Like to the lark at break of day arising

Like the lark at the break of day, rises

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

From the dark earth and (I) sing hymns to heaven;

For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings

For thinking of your love brings such happiness

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

That then I would not change my position in life with kings.`

Literary Criticism

Mimetic - nature is copied, imitated, reflected

Expressive - author’s inner being is expressed

- an examination of Shakespeare’s life around the time he wrote Sonnet 29 reveals

two traumatic events that may have shaped the theme of the sonnet. In 1592 the London theatres

closed due to a severe outbreak of plague. Although it is possible that Shakespeare toured the

outlying areas of London, it is almost certain that he left the theatre entirely during this time to work

on his sonnets and narrative poems. The closing of the playhouses made it hard for Shakespeare and

other actors of the day to earn a living. With plague and poverty looming it is expected that he would

feel "in disgrace with fortune"

Theme:

Comedy, in the contemporary meaning of the term, is any discourse or work generally

intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, television, film

and stand-up comedy.

A Shakespearean comedy is one that has a happy ending, usually involving marriages

between the unmarried characters, and a tone and style that is more light-hearted than

Shakespeare's other plays.

As You Like It

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in

1599 or early 1600 and first published in the First Folio, 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain,

though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It follows

its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find

safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden.

By William Shakespeare

Act 1, Scene 1: Orchard of Oliver's house.

Act 1, Scene 2: Lawn before the Duke's palace.

Act 1, Scene 3: A room in the palace.

Act 2, Scene 1: The Forest of Arden.


Act 2, Scene 3: Before OLIVER'S house.

Act 2, Scene 4: The Forest of Arden.

Act 2, Scene 5: The Forest.

Act 2, Scene 6: The forest.






Act 3, Scene 5: Another part of the forest.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/asyoulikeit/asyoulikeit.1.1.html





























Rising Action

Sir Rowland de Bois has recently died,

and, according to the custom of

primogeniture, the vast majority of his

estate has passed into the possession of

his eldest son, Oliver.

Charles, a wrestler from the court

of Duke Frederick, arrives to warn

Oliver of a rumor that Orlando will

challenge Charles to a fight on the

following day. Rosalind witnessed the

victory of Orlando and fell in love with

him. Rosalind gives Orlando a chain to

wear and he falls in love with her.

Conflict

Orlando returns home from the

wrestling match, only to have his

faithful servant Adam warn him about

Oliver’s plot against Orlando’s life.

Orlando decides to leave for the safety

of Arden.

Without warning, Duke Frederick

has a change of heart regarding

Rosalind and banishes her from court.

Climax

To ensure the safety of their

journey, Rosalind assumes the dress of

a young man and takes the name

Ganymede, while Celia dresses as a

common shepherdess and calls herself

Aliena.

Denouement

Rosalind, as Ganymede, claims to be

an expert in exorcising such emotions

and promises to cure Orlando of

lovesickness if he agrees to pretend that

Ganymede is Rosalind and promises to

come woo her every day. Orlando agrees,

and the love lessons begin.

Oliver describes how Orlando

stumbled upon him in the forest and

saved him from being devoured by a

hungry lioness. Oliver and Celia, still

disguised as the shepherdess Aliena, fall

instantly in love and agree to marry.

Ending

The day of the wedding arrives, and

Rosalind gathers the various couples:

Phoebe and Silvius; Celia and Oliver;

Touchstone and Audrey, a goatherd he

intends to marry; and Orlando. The

group congregates before Duke Senior

and his men. Rosalind, still disguised as

Ganymede, reminds the lovers of their

various vows.

Settings:

• Dukedome

• Forest of Arden

Characterization:

Rosalind – risk-taker; witty; brave

Orlando – courageous; reckless

Celia – loyal friend

Oliver – rude; greedy; neglectful

Duke Fredrick – cruel; volatile temper

Duke Senior – contented; helpful

Subject Matter:

Love

Loyalty

Family

Simplicity

Characters

Rosalind - the daughter of Duke Senior.

- independent minded, strong-willed, good-hearted,

and clever

Celia - The daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind’s

dearest friend. Celia’ devotion to Rosalind is unmatched, as

evidenced by her decision to follow her cousin

into exile.

Orlando - the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and

younger brother of Oliver. Orlando is an attractive young man

who, under his brother’s neglectful care, has languished

without a gentleman’s education or training.

Touchstone - A clown in Duke Frederick’s court

who accompanies Rosalind and Celia in their

flight to Ardenne.Oliver - The oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois

and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate. Oliver is a

loveless young man who begrudges his brother,

Orlando, a gentleman’s education.

Duke Senior - The father of Rosalind and the

rightful ruler of the dukedom

Duke Frederick - The brother of Duke Senior

and usurper of his throne. Duke Frederick’s cruel

nature and volatile temper are displayed when he

banishes his niece, Rosalind, from court without

reason.

Silvius - A young, suffering shepherd, who is desperately in love with the

disdainful Phoebe.

Phoebe - A young shepherdess, who disdains the affections of Silvius.

She falls in love with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind in disguise, but

Rosalind tricks Phoebe into marrying Silvius.

Charles - A professional wrestler in Duke Frederick’s court. Charles

demonstrates both his caring nature and his political savvy when he asks

Oliver to intercede in his upcoming fight with Orlando: he does not want

to injure the young man and thereby lose favor among the nobles who

support him. Charles’s concern for Orlando proves unwarranted when

Orlando beats him senseless.

Audrey - A simpleminded goatherd who agrees to marry Touchstone.

Sir Rowland de Bois - The father of Oliver and Orlando, friend of

Duke Senior, and enemy of Duke Frederick. Upon Sir Rowland’s death,

the vast majority of his estate was handed over to Oliver according to the

custom of primogeniture.

Theme:

The Delights of Love

City Life Versus Country Life

The Malleability of the Human Experience