essay questions on shakespearean sonnet

• Shakespeare's Sonnets

William Shakespeare

• Literature Notes
• Essay Questions
• About Shakespeare's Sonnets
• Summary and Analysis
• Sonnets 153 and 154
• William Shakespeare Biography
• Critical Essay
• Is Shakespeare Shakespeare?
• Full Glossary for Shakespeare's Sonnets
• Cite this Literature Note

Study Help Essay Questions

1. Select two sonnets from each of the two major divisions (Sonnets 1–126 and 127–154). How do they differ in mood and the treatment of love?

2. Which sonnets do you find most shocking, and why?

3. In the sonnets, what views does Shakespeare express regarding the nature of true love and the miseries of misguided love?

4. Write an essay in which you discuss the poet's changing attitudes toward the young man.

5. How does the poet's love for the young man differ from his love for the Dark Lady?

6. How does Shakespeare indicate that time may be conquered? How do the sonnets themselves indicate that time may be conquered?

7. Discuss the theme of immortality as presented in the sonnets, citing specific lines as support for your views.

8. What role does nature play in the sonnets? Is nature linked with one specific theme? If so, which theme, and how?

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Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Take your pick of Shakespeare’s sonnets below, along with a modern English interpretation of each one aid understanding.

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets published in his ‘quarto’ in 1609, covering themes such as the passage of time, mortality, love, beauty, infidelity, and jealousy. The first 126 of Shakespeare’s sonnets are addressed to a young man, and the last 28 addressed to a woman – a mysterious ‘dark lady’.

Jump to a section: Read all sonnets | Famous sonnets |  Publishing the sonnets | Sonnet dedications  

What is a Shakespearean sonnet?

Shakespeare’s sonnets are poems of expressive ideas and thoughts that are layered with multiple meanings, and always have two things in common:

1. All sonnets have fourteen lines

2. All sonnets are written in iambic pentameter

Read more about what a sonnet is , and iambic pentameter .

Read all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets

Take your pick from the list of Shakespeare sonnets below (or learn how to write a sonnet of your own!):

Sonnet 1: From Fairest Creatures We Desire Increase

Sonnet 2: When Forty Winters Shall Besiege Thy Brow

Sonnet 3: Look In Thy Glass, And Tell The Face Thou Viewest

Sonnet 4: Unthrifty Loveliness, Why Dost Thou Spend

Sonnet 5: Those Hours, That With Gentle Work Did Frame

Sonnet 6: Then Let Not Winter’s Ragged Hand Deface

Sonnet 7: Lo! In The Orient When The Gracious Light

Sonnet 8: Music To Hear, Why Hear’st Thou Music Sadly?

Sonnet 9: Is It For Fear To Wet A Widow’s Eye

Sonnet 10: For Shame Deny That Thou Bear’st Love To Any

Sonnet 11: As Fast As Thou Shalt Wane, So Fast Thou Grow

Sonnet 12: When I Do Count The Clock That Tells Time

Sonnet 13: O! That You Were Your Self! But, Love, You Are

Sonnet 14: Not From The Stars Do I My Judgement Pluck

Sonnet 15: When I Consider Everything That Grows

Sonnet 16: But Wherefore Do Not You A Mightier Way

Sonnet 17: Who Will Believe In My Verse In Time To Come

Sonnet 18: Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day?

Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, Blunt Thou The Lion’s Paw

Sonnet 20: A Woman’s Face With Nature’s Own Hand Painted

Sonnet 21: So It Is Not With Me As With That Muse

Sonnet 22: My Glass Shall Not Persuade Me I Am Old

Sonnet 23: As An Unperfect Actor On The Stage

Sonnet 24: Mine Eye Hath Play’d The Painter and Hath Steel’d

Sonnet 25: Let Those Who Are In Favour With Their Stars

Sonnet 26: Lord Of My Love, To Whom In Vassalage

Sonnet 27: Weary With Toil, I Haste To My Bed

Sonnet 28: How Can I Then Return In Happy Plight

Sonnet 29: When In Disgrace With Fortune and Men’s Eyes

Sonnet 30: When To The Sessions Of Sweet Silent Thought

Sonnet 31: Thy Bosom Is Endeared With All Hearts

Sonnet 32: If Thou Survive My Well-Contented Day

Sonnet 33: Full Many A Glorious Morning I Have Seen

Sonnet 34: Why Didst Thou Promise Such A Beauteous Day

Sonnet 35: No More Be Grieved At That Which Thou Hast Done

Sonnet 36: Let Me Confess That We Two Must Be Twain

Sonnet 37: As A Decrepit Father Takes Delight

Sonnet 38: How Can My Muse Want Subject To Invent

Sonnet 39: O! How Thy Worth With Manners May I Sing

Sonnet 40: Take All My Loves, My Love, Yea Take Them All

Sonnet 41: Those Pretty Wrongs That Liberty Commits

Sonnet 42: That Thou Hast It Is Not All My Grief

Sonnet 43: When Most I Wink, Then Do Mine Eyes Best See

Sonnet 44: If The Dull Substance Of My Flesh Were Thought

Sonnet 45: That Thou Hast It Is Not All My Grief

Sonnet 46: Mine Eye And Heart Are At A Mortal War

Sonnet 47: Betwixt Mine Eye And Heart A League Is Took

Sonnet 48: How Careful Was I When I Took My Way

Sonnet 49: Against That Time, If Ever That Time Come

Sonnet 50: How Heavy Do I Journey On The Way

Sonnet 51: Thus Can My Love Excuse The Slow Offence

Sonnet 52: So Am I As The Rich, Whose Blessed Key

Sonnet 53: What Is Your Substance, Whereof Are You Made

Sonnet 54: O! How Much More Doth Beauty Beauteous Seem

Sonnet 55: O! Not Marble, Nor The Gilded Monuments

Sonnet 56: Sweet Love, Renew Thy Force; Be It Not Said

Sonnet 57: Being Your Slave What Should I Do But Tend

Sonnet 58: That God Forbid, That Made Me First Your Slave

Sonnet 59: If There Be Nothing New, But That Which Is

Sonnet 60: Like As The Waves Make Towards The Pebbled Shore

Sonnet 61: Is It Thy Will, Thy Image Should Keep Open

Sonnet 62: Sin Of Self-love Possesseth All Mine Eye

Sonnet 63: Against My Love Shall Be As I Am Now

Sonnet 64: When I Have Seen By Time’s Fell Hand Defac’d

Sonnet 65: Since Brass, Nor Stone, Nor Earth, Nor Boundless Sea

Sonnet 66: Tired For All These, For Restful Death I Cry

Sonnet 67: Ah! Wherefore With Infection Should He Live

Sonnet 68: In Days Long Since, Before These Last So Bad

Sonnet 69: Those Parts Of Thee That The World’s Eye Doth View

Sonnet 70: That Thou Art Blamed Shall Not Be Thy Defect

Sonnet 71: No Longer Mourn For Me When I Am Dead

Sonnet 72: O! Lest The World Should Task You To Recite

Sonnet 73: That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold

Sonnet 74: But Be Contented When That Fell Arrest

Sonnet 75: So Are You To My Thoughts As Food To Life

Sonnet 76: Why Is My Verse So Barren Of New Pride

Sonnet 77: Thy Glass Will Show Thee How Thy Beauties Wear

Sonnet 78: So Oft Have I Invoked Thee For My Muse

Sonnet 79: Whilst I Alone Did Call Upon Thy Aid

Sonnet 80: O! How I Faint When I Do Write Of You

Sonnet 81: Or I Shall Live Your Epitaph To Make

Sonnet 82: I Grant Thou Wert Not Married To My Muse

Sonnet 83: I Never Saw That You Did Painting Need

Sonnet 84: Who Is It That Says Most, Which Can Say More

Sonnet 85: My Tongue-Tied Muse In Manners Holds Her Still

Sonnet 86: Was It The Proud Sail Of His Great Verse

Sonnet 87: Farewell! Thou Art Too Dear For My Possessing

Sonnet 88: When Thou Shalt Be Dispos’d To Set Me Light

Sonnet 89: Say That Thou Didst Forsake Me For Some Fault

Sonnet 90: Then Hate Me When Thou Wilt; If Ever, Now

Sonnet 91: Some Glory In Ttheir Birth, Some In Their Skill

Sonnet 92: But Do Thy Worst To Steal Thyself Away

Sonnet 93: So Shall I Live, Supposing Thou Art True

Sonnet 94: They That Have Power To Hurt, And Will Do None

Sonnet 95: How Sweet And Lovely Dost Thou Make The Shame

Sonnet 96: Some Say Thy Fault Is Youth, Some Wantonness

Sonnet 97: How Like A Winter Hath My Absence Been

Sonnet 98: From You Have I Been Absent In The Spring

Sonnet 99: The Forward Violet Thus Did I Chide

Sonnet 100: Where Art Thou, Muse, That Thou Forget’st So Long

Sonnet 101: O Truant Muse, What Shall Be Thy Amends

Sonnet 102: My Love Is Strengthen’d, Though More Weak In Seeming

Sonnet 103: Alack, What Poverty My Muse Brings Forth

Sonnet 104: To Me, Fair Friend, You Never Can Be Old

Sonnet 105: Let Not My Love Be Called Idolatry

Sonnet 106: When In The Chronicle Of Wasted Time

Sonnet 107: Not Mine Own Fears, Nor The Prophetic Soul

Sonnet 108: What’s In The Brain That Ink May Character

Sonnet 109: O! Never Say That I Was False Of Heart

Sonnet 110: Alas! ‘Tis True, I Have Gone Here And There

Sonnet 111: O For My Sake Do You With Fortune Chide

Sonnet 112: Your Love And Pity Doth Th’ Impression Fill

Sonnet 113: Since I Left You, Mine Eye Is In My Mind

Sonnet 114: Or Whether Doth My Mind, Being Crowned With You

Sonnet 115: Those Lines That I Before Have Writ Do Lie

Sonnet 116: Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds

Sonnet 117: Accuse Me Thus: That I Have Scanted All

Sonnet 118: Like As To Make Our Appetites More Keen

Sonnet 119: What Potions Have I Drunk Of Siren Tears

Sonnet 120: That You Were Once Unkind Befriends Me Now

Sonnet 121: ‘Tis Better To Be Vile Than Vile Esteemed

Sonnet 122: Thy Gift, Thy Tables, Are Within My Brain

Sonnet 123: Thy Pyramids Built Up With Newer Might

Sonnet 124: If My Dear Love Were But The Child Of State

Sonnet 125: Were’t Ought To Me I Bore The Canopy

Sonnet 126: O Thou, My Lovely Boy, Who In Thy Pow’r

Sonnet 127: In The Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair

Sonnet 128: How Oft When Thou, My Music, Music Play’st

Sonnet 129: Th’ Expense Of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame

Sonnet 130: My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun

Sonnet 131: Thou Art As Tyrannous, So As Thou Art

Sonnet 132: Thine Eyes I Love, And They, As Pitying Me

Sonnet 133: Beshrew That Heart That Makes My Heart To Groan

Sonnet 134: So Now I Have Confessed That He Is Thine

Sonnet 135: Whoever Hath Her Wish, Thou Hast Thy Will

Sonnet 136: If Thy Soul Check Thee That I Come So Near

Sonnet 137: Thou Blind Fool, Love, What Dost Thou To Mine Eyes

Sonnet 138: When My Love Swears That She Is Made Of Truth

Sonnet 139: O! Call Not Me To Justify The Wrong

Sonnet 140: Be Wise As Thou Art Cruel

Sonnet 141: In Faith I Do Not Love You With Mine Eyes

Sonnet 142: Love Is My Sin, And Thy Dear Virtue Hate

Sonnet 143: Lo, As A Careful Housewife Runs To Catch

Sonnet 144: Two Loves I Have Of Comfort And Despair

Sonnet 145: Those Lips That Love’s Own Hand Did Make

Sonnet 146: Poor Soul, The Centre Of My Sinful Earth

Sonnet 147: My Love Is As A Fever Longing Still

Sonnet 148: O Me! What Eyes Hath Love Put In My Head

Sonnet 149: Canst Thou, O Cruel! Say I Love Thee Not

Sonnet 150: O! From What Power Hast Thou This Powerful Might

Sonnet 151: Love Is Too Young To Know What Conscience Is

Sonnet 152: In Loving Thee Thou Kow’st I Am Forsworn

Sonnet 153: Cupid Laid By His Brand And Fell Asleep

Sonnet 154: The Little Love-God Lying Once Asleep

This complete collection of 154 sonnets with explanations is available in an ebook to download now .

Picture of the famous Shakespeare sonnets folio

Famous Sonnets By Shakespeare

Shakespeare published 154 sonnets , and although they are all poems of the highest quality, there are some that have entered deeply into the consciousness of our culture to become the most famous Shakespeare sonnets . This handful of sonnets are quoted regularly by people at all levels of modern western life – sometimes without even realizing that they are quoting a line from Shakespeare.

In our humble opinion the 8 sonnets below represent Shakespeare’s most famous words in the sonnet form:

Sonnet 18:  Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Perhaps the most famous of all the sonnets is Sonnet 18, where Shakespeare addresses a young man to whom he is very close. It would be impossible to say whether Shakespeare was an arrogant man because we don’t know what he was like. We also don’t know whether he thought he was the ‘great,’ immortal writer that we regard him as today. However, after describing the young man’s great beauty, he suggests that his poetry is ‘eternal’ and ends by stating that as long as there are people who can still read, the sonnet, and therefore the description of the young man’s beauty, will still be there.

Sonnet 30:  When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

An interesting take on aging and love. The narrator describes the things that people agonize over as they descend into old age – all the regrets and the pain of reliving the mistakes he has made. It’s full of agony but when he thinks about his beloved all the regrets and pain evaporate.

Sonnet 33:  Full many a glorious morning have I seen

This is a poem about loss; the loss of a loved one. Shakespeare approaches it by expressing the contrast in the way we feel when the morning sun is shining brightly and when it’s obscured by clouds, making the world a forlorn place. When he was loved by the beloved it was like the glorious morning, but now, having lost the beloved, it feels like an overcast and gloomy morning. He concludes that he doesn’t condemn the beloved because human frailty, even among the best of humanity, is just as much a part of nature as the obscuring clouds are.

Sonnet 73:  That time of year thou mayst in me behold

The narrator of Sonnet 73 is approaching death and thinking about how different it is from being young. It’s like the branch of a tree where birds once sang but the birds have gone and the leaves have fallen, leaving only a few dry yellow leaves. It’s like the twilight of a beautiful day, where there is only the black night ahead. It’s like the glowing ashes of a fire that once roared. The things that one gave him life have destroyed his life. From that experience, he has learned that one has to love life as strongly as one can because it will end all too soon.

Sonnet 104:  To me, fair friend, you never can be old

Here Shakespeare expresses the love one person has for another by showing how the beauty of the beloved doesn’t change in the eyes of the lover. He shows time passing through the seasons and the years, everything changing. Except for the beauty of the beloved. He goes further by saying that no matter how long the world will endure, even though the beloved is long dead there will never be another as beautiful.

Sonnet 116:  Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments

There are two striking definitions of love that we refer to again and again. Perhaps the most popular of the two is in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians ( Corinthians 13: 4-8 ):

Love is patient, love is kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Paul’s text is as well known as Sonnet 116 because it is used in most weddings as the young couple stands before the minister. But Shakespeare’s sonnet employs an amazing array of poetic devices to convey the eternal nature of love. Shakespeare ends by staking everything on his observations about love by asserting that if he is wrong about it then no-one ever wrote anything and no-one ever loved.

Sonnet 129:  The expense of spirit in a waste of shame

Sonnet 129 is an interesting take on the imperative force of lust, but its ultimate shallowness. Everyone knows how shallow and guilt-producing lust is but very few men can avoid it. Shakespeare shows how lust brings out the very worst in people and the extremes they will go to. And then he explains the guilt that follows the satisfaction of one’s lust.

Sonnet 130:  My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun

Shakespeare is expressing the kind of love that has nothing to do with the beloved’s looks. He satirizes the usual way of expressing love for a woman – praising her lips and her hair, the way she walks, and all the things that a young man may rave about when he thinks about his beloved. What he does is invert those things, assert that his beloved is ugly, ungainly, bad-smelling, etc, but ends by saying that his love for her is as ‘rare’ as that of any young man who writes flatteringly about the object of his love.

Interested in sonnets from other authors? Check out our sonnet examples from highly regarded poets who do things a little differently to Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Publishing Shakespeare’s Sonnets

A widely held belief contends that Shakespeare’s sonnets were published without his consent. Had Shakespeare endorsed their publication, many believe he would have provided their printer with an authoritative text and a dedication. However, “Shakes-peares Sonnets” contains no dedication from the author and the text has many errors. Some critics also maintain that some sonnets are unfinished and that the sequence is too incoherent to have been intended for publication.

Exponents of this view have argued that someone whom Shakespeare trusted betrayed him by giving the poems to their first publisher, Thomas Thope, or that a thief, perhaps motivated by animosity or personal profit, seized the poets manuscript and sold it on. Some hold that the publication of the sonnets surely upset Shakespeare, whose poems dealt with scandalous forms of love; homoerotic and adulterous. Others variously insist that these subjects are more shocking to post-Victorian readers than to Jacobean ones; that, whilst the sonnets voice strong feelings, these were entirely appropriate to the form; and that emotions expressed in his sonnets do not mirror Shakespeare’s own any more than those of  dramatic characters in his plays .

Who Were The Shakespeare Sonnets Dedicated To?

Certain features of  the sonnet form – not least the first-person narrative and themes of love – give the impression of offering direct access to their author’s inner world. Since there has long been intense curiosity about the ‘youth’ addressed in the sonnets, clues to his identity have also been extracted with no little strain from the frontispiece of the first edition. The author of this dedication, T.T, was Thomas Thorpe, the publisher. But the identity of the “begetter” of the sonnets, “Mr W. H.” remains a mystery. Some think this is a misprint for “Mr W. S.” or “Mr W. Sh.”, as in William Shakespeare. Others suspect that the “begetter” refers to the scoundrel who may have conveyed the poems to Thorpe against Shakespeare’s wishes.  But the most widely held assumption is that the “beggetter” must be the person who inspired the “ensuing sonnets”, the majority of which address a young man.

Working from the scant evidence offered by the initials W. H., literary detectives have proposed many candidates. One is  Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton , to whom Shakespeare dedicated  Venus and Adonis  and  The Rape of Lucrece  in the mid-1590s. Another is William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, whose name figures among those to whom the First Folio was dedicated in 1623. A third candidate is Sir William Hervey, stepfather of the Earl of Southampton, who may have commissioned lyrics urging the young man to marry and produce an heir – the first 17 sonnets of the sequence treat this theme. Of these candidates, however, two were earls and one was a gentleman, referred to as “Sir”. None would have been called “Mr” save by error or to suggest intimacy. In the end, these probing enigmas of Shakespeare’s sonnets are forced to speculate; information is poor, scarce and inconclusive.

The numbers behind the sonnets

Who knew that Shakespeare’s sonnets and mathematics were so linked?

In the super-interesting video below, Professor Roger Bowley talks about the tight constraints – and shape – that numbers gave to Shakespeare’s sonnets.

What’s your take on the Shakespeare sonnets listed above? Let us know by joining in the conversation in the comments section below!

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I verry mutch like sonnet154

I proposed a hypothesis revealing the meaning of the mysterious Dedication – see my article `Shakespeare’s Sonnets: The Riddle of Dedication` https://vixra.org/abs/2102.0107

The sonnets, especially 34, suggest to me that Shakespeare may have been unhappy in his relationships. It makes me sad.

nice, thanks, his works are more than meets the eye!

What an impressionable Mark he left throughout his generations still centuries later We’re still learning from him A true composure of his pieces Shows how tangible one’s touch can be on time I have an original William Shakespeare ‘The tragedy of McBeth’ 1673 1908 edition I cherish

Shakespeare’s collection of 154 sonnets, initially published in 1609 in the ‘quarto’, encapsulates a rich tapestry of themes that reflect the complexities of human emotions and experiences. Central themes that reverberate through these sonnets include the passage of time, mortality, love, beauty, infidelity, and jealousy, inviting readers into a profound exploration of the human condition.

A prominent theme across the sonnets is the passage of time and its inexorable effects on human life. Shakespeare grapples with the fleeting nature of time, expressing the inevitable march towards mortality and the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. He frequently uses imagery related to seasons, days, and hours to underscore the transience of life and the urgency to seize the present moment.

Love, arguably the most pervasive theme in the sonnet sequence, is depicted in various shades – from idealized and romantic to tumultuous and conflicted. The first 126 sonnets, addressed to a young man, explore themes of infatuation, adoration, friendship, and the desire for legacy and immortality through procreation. These sonnets delve into the complexities of platonic and romantic love, capturing the profound emotions experienced by the speaker.

In the latter part of the sequence, the focus shifts to a ‘dark lady,’ an enigmatic woman who is the subject of the remaining 28 sonnets. Here, the sonnets take a more provocative turn, exploring themes of lust, jealousy, betrayal, and the darker aspects of romantic relationships. The portrayal of this ‘dark lady’ offers a contrast to the idealized love depicted in the earlier sonnets and delves into the complexities of human desires and emotions. Shakespeare’s sonnets remain a timeless exploration of the human psyche, revealing the multifaceted nature of human emotions and experiences. The duality between the idealized love for the young man and the more tumultuous relationships with the ‘dark lady’ provides a holistic depiction of the highs and lows of love and the inevitability of the passage of time and mortality.

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William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More

Sonnet 18: introduction, sonnet 18 analysis: literary devices, sonnet 18: tone and themes, symbolism and imagery in the sonnet 18, literary analysis of sonnet 18: conclusion, works cited.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? The Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare is one of the most known Shakespeare’s sonnets. Want to learn more about the themes, tone, and imagery in Sonnet 18 ? Read the literary analysis below!

This essay analyzes Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 . The sonnet is a captivating love story of a young man fascinated by the beauty of his mistress and affectionately comparing her to nature. The first stanza, ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ opens the poem with an indication of a young man deeply in love (Shakespeare 1). He envisions her as a beautiful creature and even wonders whether one can compare her beauty to any summer season.

This love sonnet falls under the lyric genre, with the author expressing deep emotional feelings for his mistress throughout the poem. The first stanza gives an assumption to the reader that the poet is not sure of what is more beautiful, a beautiful summer day or his mistress.

However, the air is cleared in the preceding stanzas that see the poet overcome by flamboyant feelings and admits that his lover is even lovelier than the summer itself (Shakespeare 2). The poem embeds an image of an undying and eternal kind of beauty as visualized by the poet.

The poet adopts a thematic structure technique to express his lover’s beauty. A line-by-line analysis of Sonnet 18 shows that the first stanza acts as an eye-opener of the poet’s attempt to compare his lover with summer. He goes on to state why his lover is better. Stanzas 1-6 give a solid reason as to why one cannot compare his lover to summer. Though summer appears to be beautiful, it is not constant and can be very disappointing if solely relied upon. It also does not last as long as his lover’s beauty would.

The stanzas give detailed answers to his rhetorical question posed at the beginning of the poem. The poet’s praises and awe are well expressed in these stanzas by revealing all the beautiful qualities seized by his mistress. Her beauty is constant and can neither be shaken by strong winds nor can it become unpredictable like the hot sun. It doesn’t waiver in the eyes of the beholder like the clouds swallow the summer hence losing its beauty.

Stanzas 7-14 indicates everlasting beauty, which he says cannot be claimed by anything, not even a natural calamity such as death. In the conclusion of the Sonnet 18 , W. Shakespeare admits that ‘Every fair from fair sometime decline,’ he makes his mistress’s beauty an exception by claiming that her youthful nature will never fade (Shakespeare 7). Interestingly, the author takes a different twist in the ending when he no longer compares the beauty to the summer but rather to the immortality of his poems (Shakespeare 14).

The poem features an affectionate mood portrayed by the poet throughout the poem. The tone of the Sonnet 18 is that of the romantic intimacy of a young man intrigued by a woman’s beauty. The mood and the tone, therefore, play a significant role in describing the setting of the poem.

The poet is sitting in a field on a warm summer day (Shakespeare 1). Though the weather seems ideal, it is breezy, with rough winds’ shaking the buds of May’ (Shakespeare 3). That is an indication that the poet is sitting under a tree enjoying the scenery on a hot afternoon. The poet enjoys the unpredictable weather till the clouds swallow the sun, and as he states, ‘By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’ d,’ nature always seems to take its course during sunset and sunrise (Shakespeare 8).

The poet uses metaphor and personification to bring life to the Sonnet 18 . For example, he uses figurative speech to presume change, fate, and immortality. He speaks of how he will internally save his lover’s beauty from fading from the face of the earth (Shakespeare 12). ‘Summer’ as a literary device is used to mean the life of the mistress that should be safe from fate. Fate, in this case, is portrayed by the use of scorching sun and rough winds.

The imagery of the Sonnet 18 includes personified death and rough winds. The poet has even gone further to label the buds as ‘darling’ (Shakespeare 3). Death serves as a supervisor of ‘its shade,’ which is a metaphor for ‘after life’ (Shakespeare 11). All these actions are related to human beings. ‘Eternal lines to lines though growest’ (Shakespeare 12) is a praise of the poet’s poems which he says will last forever so long as ‘men can breathe or eyes can see,’ a metaphor symbolizing ‘poet lovers’ will be there to read them (Shakespeare 13).

He views beauty as an art that cannot diminish despite all the hurdles in life. However, beauty does not apply to everything but only to images that appeal more to the eyes of the beholder than nature itself. That kind of beauty is immortal and surpasses all tribulations caused by nature itself.

This essay on the Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare analyzed the poem’s tone, imagery, meaning, and main themes. In summary, the poet is fascinated by his mistress’s beauty, such that he cannot imagine that very beauty fading from his eyes. He argues that beauty is constant and, unlike a ‘summer day,’ is not affected by any changes or fate at all. He, however, seems to be praising his poem as characterized at the end of the poem, where he only compares the everlasting beauty to his text. The Sonnet eighteen’s conclusion indicates that beauty can only end only when the poem ceases to exist.

Shakespeare, William. “ Shakespeare Sonnet 18. ” Shakespeare Sonnets . 1564. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 28). William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-sonnet-18/

"William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More." IvyPanda , 28 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-sonnet-18/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More'. 28 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-sonnet-18/.

1. IvyPanda . "William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-sonnet-18/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 Analysis: Tone, Imagery, Symbolism, and More." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespeares-sonnet-18/.

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100+ Shakespeare Essay Topics

The enigmatic William Shakespeare remains one of the most studied literary figures, and writing essays on his comprehensive works can be as enlightening as it is challenging. At WriteOnDeadline, we understand the complexities and subtleties involved in crafting compelling essays about Shakespeare’s compositions. Therefore, we are here to assist you in navigating this journey through selecting intriguing topics and offering a helping hand in bringing your Shakespeare essay to life.

Table of Contents

What is a Shakespeare Essay?

A Shakespeare essay is a scholarly composition that explores the various aspects of Shakespeare’s works, including his plays, sonnets, and other poetic works. These essays can delve into themes like tragedy, love, betrayal, leadership, and supernatural elements, to name a few, all frequent in Shakespeare’s writings. Analyzing the historical context, linguistic techniques, character development, and unique plot twists are also integral parts of a Shakespeare essay, requiring a deep understanding of literature, Renaissance culture, and, importantly, Elizabethan English.

Choosing the Perfect Shakespeare Essay Topic: A Quick Guide

Embarking on the journey of writing a Shakespeare essay involves first selecting a topic that is not only engaging but also offers ample avenues for research and analysis. Here’s a quick guide on making this crucial choice:

• Passion Meets Relevance: Choose a theme or character from Shakespeare’s works that intrigues you the most. Your passion for the subject will fuel your research and writing process.
• Scope for Exploration: Opt for a topic that allows multiple perspectives and interpretations. The richness of Shakespeare’s work lies in its complexity and the myriad ways it can be understood.
• Resource Availability: Ensure there are sufficient resources and scholarly materials available for your chosen topic. The depth of your analysis will largely depend on the quality of the research you conduct.
• Originality is Key: While Shakespeare’s works have been discussed extensively, strive to find a unique angle or an under-represented theme that will make your essay stand out.

Captivating Shakespeare Essay Topics Lists

Delving into the world of Shakespeare requires a guide to the possible paths one can explore. Below are unique and engaging topics that can be the foundation of insightful essays.

Analyzing the Tragedies

• The manifestation of political power in “Macbeth.”
• Exploring the theme of revenge in “Hamlet.”
• The role of fate and free will in the tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Moral dilemmas faced by characters in “King Lear.”

Delving into the Comedies

• Gender disguises and their implications in “Twelfth Night.”
• The concept of love in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
• Analyzing the comedic elements in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
• Portrayal of friendship in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

The Histories and Their Relevance

• Historical truths versus artistic license in “Richard III.”
• Exploring national identity in “Henry V.”
• The role of prophecy and divination in “Julius Caesar.”
• Leadership qualities depicted in “Henry IV, Part 1.”

Unraveling the Romances

• The supernatural elements in “The Tempest.”
• Realism and idealism in “The Winter’s Tale.”
• Exploration of forgiveness and reconciliation in “Cymbeline.”
• Depictions of loss and redemption in “Pericles.”

Sonnets and Poems

• The theme of immortality in Shakespeare’s sonnets.
• Shakespeare’s depiction of love in his sonnets.
• Analysis of narrative techniques in “The Rape of Lucrece.”
• The role of symbolism in “Venus and Adonis.”

Special Topics

• Shakespeare’s influence on modern literature.
• The relevance of Shakespeare in today’s world.
• Shakespeare’s portrayal of female characters.
• The use of soliloquies in Shakespeare’s plays.

Shakespeare’s Worldview

• Shakespeare’s perception of the human experience.
• The idea of mortality in Shakespeare’s plays.
• How Shakespeare’s personal life influenced his work.
• The importance of nature in Shakespeare’s literature.
• Social hierarchies and class distinctions in Shakespearean plays.

Portrayal of Relationships

• Familial bonds in “King Lear.”
• Love versus infatuation in “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Friendship dynamics in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• Manipulative relationships in “Othello.”
• Power struggles in marital relationships throughout Shakespeare’s plays.

Villains and Antagonists

• The psychological profile of Iago in “Othello.”
• Lady Macbeth: Power, ambition, and guilt.
• Richard III’s quest for power and its implications.
• The role of jealousy in creating villains in Shakespeare’s works.
• Aaron the Moor’s malevolence in “Titus Andronicus.”

Supernatural Elements

• The importance of the Three Witches in “Macbeth.”
• The role of ghosts and apparitions in “Hamlet.”
• Prophecies and their influences in Shakespeare’s plays.
• The supernatural as a reflection of human psychology.
• Ariel vs. Caliban: Contrasting representations of the supernatural in “The Tempest.”

Philosophical Insights

• To be or not to be: An exploration of existentialism in “Hamlet.”
• The notion of predestined fate in “Romeo and Juliet.”
• The philosophy of dreams in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
• The concept of time in Shakespeare’s sonnets.
• Views on ambition and its consequences in “Macbeth.”

Lesser Studied Plays

• Exploration of societal norms in “Troilus and Cressida.”
• Themes of betrayal and loyalty in “Coriolanus.”
• The tragic elements in “Timon of Athens.”
• Elements of satire in “All’s Well That Ends Well.”
• Role of disguise in “Measure for Measure.”

Historical and Political Analysis

• Shakespeare’s portrayal of Roman politics in “Antony and Cleopatra.”
• The Tudor myth in Shakespeare’s historical plays.
• Analysis of the political climate in “Julius Caesar.”
• Leadership dynamics in “Henry IV, Part 2.”
• The politics of love in “Antony and Cleopatra.”

Language and Rhetoric

• Shakespeare’s innovative use of the English language.
• The power of soliloquies in driving plot and character development.
• Wordplay, puns, and their significance in “Twelfth Night.”
• Rhetorical devices in Mark Antony’s speech in “Julius Caesar.”
• The language of love in Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Gender and Sexuality

• The role of cross-dressing in “As You Like It.”
• Examining the feminist aspects of “The Taming of the Shrew.”
• Gender roles and expectations in “Macbeth.”
• Exploration of sexuality in “The Sonnets.”
• Female empowerment in “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Religion and Morality

• Religious undertones in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• The interplay of sin, redemption, and justice in “Hamlet.”
• Examination of moral dilemmas in “Othello.”
• Pagan vs. Christian beliefs in “King Lear.”
• The concept of divine retribution in Shakespeare’s tragedies.

Character Development and Evolution

• Evolution of Macbeth: From hero to tyrant.
• Desdemona’s resilience and fragility in “Othello.”
• The transformation of Prince Hal to King Henry V.
• Juliet’s journey from innocence to maturity.
• The multifaceted nature of Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice.”

Symbolism and Imagery

• The symbolism of blood in “Macbeth.”
• Light and darkness imagery in “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Nature imagery in “As You Like It.”
• The role of the handkerchief in “Othello.”
• Sea and land as contrasting symbols in “The Tempest.”

Settings and Their Implications

• The significance of the Forest of Arden in “As You Like It.”
• Venice vs. Belmont: Contrasting worlds in “The Merchant of Venice.”
• The claustrophobic setting of Elsinore in “Hamlet.”
• Social dynamics in the court vs. wilderness in “King Lear.”
• The island’s role as a microcosm of society in “The Tempest.”

Deceptions and Revelations

• The impact of Iago’s deceptions in “Othello.”
• Secrets and revelations in “Twelfth Night.”
• The tragic consequences of deceit in “Macbeth.”
• Mistaken identities in “The Comedy of Errors.”
• Portia’s cunning in “The Merchant of Venice.”

Love in Its Many Forms

• Unrequited love in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
• The destructive nature of obsessive love in “Antony and Cleopatra.”
• Familial love in “King Lear.”
• Friendship vs. romantic love in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
• The portrayal of true love in “The Sonnets.”

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Useful References

• Shakespeare Online
• The British Library – Shakespeare in Quarto
• Folger Shakespeare Library
• Shakespeare’s Works: A Comprehensive Resource
• Shakespeare Resource Center

Sonnet Symphonies: Harmonizing Emotion and Form

This essay about the sonnet as a symphony of emotion and form explores the rich tapestry of poetic expression woven by renowned poets throughout history. Rooted in tradition yet ever-evolving, the sonnet serves as a canvas for poets to paint their emotional landscapes with structured elegance. From Shakespeare’s timeless verses to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s iconic inquiries into love, each sonnet symphony resonates with a transcendent beauty that envelops readers in a profound experience of human connection. Through meticulous craftsmanship and innovative flair, poets orchestrate melodic compositions that transcend mere words, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the universal language of emotion woven into the fabric of each sonnet.

How it works

In the realm of poetic expression, the sonnet unfurls as a mesmerizing symphony, where the intricate interplay of emotion and form creates a tapestry of unparalleled beauty. Like a virtuoso conductor leading an orchestra through a spellbinding performance, the poet orchestrates the harmonious fusion of language and sentiment, captivating hearts and minds with every verse. These sonnet symphonies, with their structured elegance and emotive resonance, weave narratives that transcend mere words, enveloping readers in a transcendent experience of human connection.

Rooted in the fertile soil of literary tradition, the sonnet traces its lineage through the annals of time, its origins nestled amidst the sun-drenched landscapes of medieval Italy.

It burgeoned under the tutelage of masterful wordsmiths like Petrarch, whose verses blossomed with the fervor of unrequited love and the yearning for immortal beauty. Across epochs and continents, the sonnet evolved, adapting to shifting cultural currents while retaining its fundamental essence—a compact yet potent vessel of poetic expression.

At its core, the sonnet comprises a structured framework of 14 lines, a canvas upon which the poet paints their emotional landscape. Its rhythmic cadence, often guided by strict rhyme schemes and metrical patterns, serves as both scaffold and springboard for creative exploration. Within these boundaries, poets find liberation, sculpting their words into a melodic tapestry that resonates with depth and clarity.

Consider Shakespeare’s timeless Sonnet 18, where the Bard immortalizes his beloved with the immortal query, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Through the ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme and the pulsating heartbeat of iambic pentameter, Shakespeare crafts a lyrical ode to love’s enduring splendor, each line a lyrical note in a celestial symphony. The poem crescendos to a climactic couplet, where the speaker’s declaration of eternal devotion reverberates with the clarity of a crystal bell, echoing through the corridors of time.

Yet, the sonnet’s allure lies not only in its adherence to tradition but also in its capacity for innovation. Modern poets have embraced the form, infusing it with contemporary sensibilities and experimental flair. From the visceral intensity of Sylvia Plath’s confessional sonnets to the fragmented musings of E.E. Cummings, the sonnet evolves, a chameleon-like entity, ever-changing yet eternally captivating.

In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s iconic “Sonnet 43,” the poet poses the immortal question, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Through the ABBAABBACDCDCD rhyme scheme, Browning constructs a lyrical labyrinth of adoration, each repetition of “I love thee” a resounding chord in the symphony of devotion. The poem unfolds like a sacred hymn, inviting readers to bask in the warmth of unconditional love.

Indeed, sonnet symphonies are a testament to the enduring power of poetry. They are a celebration of the human spirit, expressed through the universal language of emotion. Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, the poet weaves together disparate elements—words, rhythm, and imagery—to create a symphonic masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of time and space. In the embrace of a sonnet symphony, readers find solace, inspiration, and a profound connection to the shared human experience.

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50 Awesome Shakespeare Essay Topics You Should Consider for Your Literature Class

William Shakespeare is the most frequently discussed author in English Literature classes. By assigning the Shakespeare essay, teachers assess students' knowledge of his most distinguished works, as well as their overall ability to analyze literary pieces. Why is it so important? Because knowing Shakespeare's best stories and citing his most famous lines is the mark of how enlightened a person really is.

There are many types of academic essays, but if you stick with an essay on Shakespeare it will probably fall in one of the below categories:

• Descriptive essay (pick a particular idea and introduce it to the audience).
• Expository essay (shed light on a problem with the help of proven facts).
• Persuasive essay (take a position and try to justify it by citing evidence).

Picking Shakespeare essay topics is always challenging, which is why we decided to spare you the trouble and prepared a list of the top William Shakespeare essay topics.

Best Shakespeare Argumentative Essay Topics

• The topic of revenge & love: Does Hamlet reveal his feelings for Ophelia because of the desire for revenge?
• Discuss how real the ghost in Hamlet is.
• Sexual problems in William Shakespeare's works.
• The difference between historical events and the way Shakespeare interprets them.
• How convincing is the presence of the ghost in Hamlet ?
• Polonius's judgment: wrong or right perception?
• What do Shakespeare's characters use for achieving political goals?
• Does Hamlet deserve to die at the end?
• Analysis of films based on Shakespeare's poems.

Topics for Shakespeare Plays

• The role of emotions & social status in Shakespeare's works.
• Analysis of Comedy of Errors .
• William Shakespeare as a playwright.
• What are the similarities between Hamlet and Moby-Dick ?
• Melodrama - the primary genre of Shakespeare's plays.
• The most important feature of Shakespeare's plays (tragedy).
• The role of women in Othello .
• The influence of political events on the author.
• How Shakespeare brought about a revolution in literature.
• The most successful movies based on Shakespeare's famous plays.

Excellent Shakespeare Sonnets Essay Topics

• Choose The Dark Lady and argue the way she would be represented in the real world.
• The conflict between platonic love & carnal desire.
• Homoerotic desire in Shakespeare's sonnets.
• How should the sonnets be divided?
• Provide a couple of examples where Shakespeare criticizes himself for his inadequacies.
• The meaning of the black color in Shakespeare's sonnets.
• The images used by Shakespeare in his sonnets.
• In-depth analysis of sonnets 153-154.
• Methods used to characterize women's identity.
• The financial imagery in Shakespeare's sonnets.

Shakespeare Essay Topics - Female Characters

• The characters who dress up as boys (example: Viola ).
• Ladies with the power to do whatever they want ( Cleopatra ).
• Unassuming female characters who act for the sake of love.
• Shakespeare's common representation of women.
• The topic of sexism in Taming of the Shrew .
• Temptation in Macbeth .
• A feminist perspective on Shakespeare's famous works.
• The way Shakespeare depicts the relationships between men and women.
• Modern reaction to Shakespeare's representation of women.
• Describing female characters in Othello .

Stunning Essay Topics about Shakespeare

• Characters in Henry V .
• The issue of racism in Othello .
• The role of supernatural phenomena in Macbeth .
• What was Cassius' motivation?
• What was the central role of the Fool in King Lear ?
• How do 7 soliloquies represent Hamlet?
• Analysis of Othello's Desdemona.
• Racism in the art of Shakespeare.
• Characterizing King Duncan .
• Hermione from The Winter's Tale .

Which Format to Choose?

Once you are done selecting among the Shakespeare essay topics, think about the appropriate format for your essay. Go with the standard 5-paragraph essay, which usually comprises the following parts: an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and conclusion. Make sure to include background orientation to the topic, and thesis in the introduction; provide arguments in support of the thesis statement (main idea of the writing) in the body paragraphs; summarize the body paragraphs and restate the thesis in the conclusion. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader so that you can do that with the help of a hook sentence of your choice:

• Literary quote.
• Rhetorical question.

It's also a good idea to finish your essay with an interesting fact from the author's life or a quote from his work proving your point.

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Adapting Turkish Shakespeares (Edited Volume)

Call for Chapters  

Türkiye has a long tradition of reading, translating, and staging William Shakespeare’s plays, a practice dating back to the pre-Constitution era and persisting in the 21st century. Shakespeare is arguably the most popular foreign writer within Turkish discourse. This enduring interest is evident in the myriad ways his plays and poetry have been adapted and translated. Stage adaptations, particularly those in theatre, opera, and ballet, have been notably popular. To bridge the gap between Turkish readers and Shakespeare, his works have undergone numerous translations and re-translations. They have also been abridged and produced in the form of comics, also providing an important addition to children’s literature. Cinematic versions of his plays have been produced and achieved popularity abroad. Furthermore, the number of multimedia and digital versions of his plays has surged, a trend accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. His plays have made their way to social media, been caricatured, and inspired various pop culture products derived from the setting and/or character names in his plays. Popular lines from his sonnets have permeated Turkish song lyrics. As elsewhere, Shakespeare has also served as a means to voice political dissent and comment on the historical trajectory of the country, reflecting societal shifts towards modernisation, Westernisation, secularisation, and democratisation. His works have also been performed beyond the mainstream theatres of urban centres, echoing the diverse minority and marginalized voices in Anatolia. Additionally, the pedagogical approach to his works has been a focal point for educators and academics seeking innovative methods and materials to deepen Turkish students’ understanding and engagement with Shakespeare in classroom settings. Despite this extensive engagement, this long tradition has remained relatively obscure for the majority of both Turkish and non-Turkish academic and non-academic circles. 

This volume aims to fill this gap by exploring the intricate ways in which Shakespeare has been adapted, translated, domesticated, politicised, and commercialised in Türkiye. For this book, we are looking forward to receiving abstracts for 7,000-word chapters (including Bibliography) that document and critically engage with the impact of Shakespeare adaptations in Türkiye.

Contributors are invited on any of the following aspects:

• Pre-Republic Renditions of Shakespeare
• Post-Republic Adaptations
• Stage adaptations of Shakespeare in Türkiye
• Politicised Shakespeare
• Marginal Shakespeares
• Mediatised Shakespeare
• Shakespeare in İstanbul
• Shakespeare in Anatolia
• Shakespeare in Translation/Re-translation
• Localisation and Domestication of Shakespeare
• Shakespeare on the Turkish Screen
• Teaching Shakespeare
• Shakespeare in Visual Arts
• Turkish audiences and Shakespeare
• Cultural Materialism of Shakespeare in Türkiye
• Shakespeare in Children’s Literature
• Digitised Shakespeare
• Popular Culture Shakespeares
• Shakespeare in Turkish Literature
• Performance history of Shakespeare in Türkiye
• Shakespeare and minorities in Türkiye
• Censorship of Shakespeare’s works in Türkiye
• Turkification of Shakespeare
• Uses of Shakespeare in Modernisation, Westernisation, Secularisation Process of Türkiye
• Trans/cross-cultural adaptations of Shakespeare in Türkiye

Essays might discuss any of these issues either as groups from a macro perspective (looking at chronological, spatial, class, gender, racial, linguistic, translational, ecological, and posthuman continuities or discontinuities) or from a micro perspective and focus on individual play adaptations (but papers should critically engage with these plays without reducing them to reviews).

Please send a 250-word abstract, a short bio, and your recent CV to Turkish Shakespeares ( [email protected] ) before the 30th of September 2024.

We have already contacted two major academic publishers which have shown great interest in the volume.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries. We are looking forward to receiving your proposals.

The Editors

Özlem Özmen Akdoğan  is currently a Fulbright postdoctoral visiting scholar in the Department of Comparative Literature at Harvard University. She works as an Associate Professor Doctor of English at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Türkiye. She received her PhD on the British rewritings of Shakespeare’s plays in the twentieth century from the Department of English Language and Literature at Hacettepe University, Türkiye, in 2018. She carried out research for her dissertation at the School of English and Drama, Queen Mary University of London with TÜBİTAK scholarship from September 2015 to March 2016. She has publications on twentieth and twenty-first-century adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. She is a member of ESRA (European Shakespeare Research Association). She has presented several papers on Shakespeare adaptation at ESRA and WSC (World Shakespeare Congress) conferences. Her research interests include adaptation studies, British women dramatists, contemporary British dramatists, climate crisis and animal studies, and political drama. She has taught courses on Shakespeare at the Department of English Language and Literature and the Department of Performing Arts at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and Department of English at Cappadocia University.

Murat Öğütcü is an Associate Professor Doctor in the English Language and Literature Department at Adıyaman University, Türkiye. He received his PhD degree from the Department of English Language and Literature at Hacettepe University, Türkiye, in 2016. From August 2012 to January 2013, he was a visiting scholar at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is currently working at Adıyaman University, Türkiye. He is the General Editor of the “ Turkish Shakespeares ” Project which aims to introduce texts, productions and research on Turkish Shakespeares to a broader international audience of students, teachers, and researchers. He is also a researcher at the AHRC-funded “ Medieval and Early Modern Orients ” project which aims to contribute to our understanding of the medieval and early modern encounters between England and the Islamic Worlds. He is among the regional editors of the Global Shakespeares Project and the World Shakespeare Bibliography . He is co-editor of Materializing the East in Early Modern English Drama (Bloomsbury, 2023). He has written book chapters and articles on his research interests, including early modern studies, Shakespeare, and cultural studies.

I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29)

By elizabeth barrett browning, i think of thee (sonnet 29) essay questions.

Discuss Browning's use of caesura in this work.

A caesura is a poetic device in which a single line is broken by a pause, with two separate phrases oriented around that central pause. This poem includes a good deal of caesura, which is especially prominent in its first and final lines. In line one, Browning writes "I think of thee! - my thoughts do twine and bud," with an exclamation point and a hyphen dividing the two phrases. The second of these phrases offers a metaphorical elaboration upon the statement made in the first. In the final line, Browning writes "I do not think of thee - I am too near thee," again using a hyphen to juxtapose two thoughts, so that the second phrase explains the first. The parallel structure of these two lines, each containing caesura, help to bring the poem full circle and emphasize their juxtaposed content.

How does Browning use extended metaphor in this poem?

An extended metaphor is used to convey a highly abstract, complex concept in clear and accessible terms. The poem's speaker describes a knotty situation in which her own thoughts about a lover cause her to lose sight of the lover's real self, even as she simultaneously feels close to him via imagination. This odd dynamic is made comprehensible through figurative language in which the speaker's thoughts are represented as vines, and the listener is represented as a tree. In particular, the use of a physical object to describe non-corporeal thoughts helps make the situation feel visceral and urgent.

I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29) Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29) is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29)

I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29) study guide contains a biography of Elizabeth Browning, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29)
• I Think of Thee (Sonnet 29) Summary
• Character List