William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is considered the most important literary figure in the English literary history as a whole. He was born in stradford-on-avon. His father was prominent, but he went through financial trouble. Shakespeare was forced to go to a grammar school, and attended no university. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. He began his life as an actor then he became a playwright and a poet, but we aren’t sure with which company Shakespeare worked. He wasn’t confined to the theatre but he also wrote poetry.
Shakespeare differed greatly from his predecessors in writing the sonnet form. He didn’t follow the Petrarchan convention, and because he mastered the English sonnet, it was named after him.

He was different in many points.

-Theme.

His themes were different from the themes treated in the sonnets before him. He treated the theme of the beauty of young man and this was something totally new. He also dealt with the urge to marry. Other sonnets were addressed to a black lady, he also treated the triangle of love in which two men love only one woman. He also dealt with the destructive power of time and some other were about rival poets.

-Style.

Shakespeare’s style was really a perfect one. He depended on simple vocabulary which had no complication in it. His language was full of rich metaphors, and his style was greatly elevated.

-Structure.

He didn’t follow the Petrarchan division of the sonnet in which the sonnet was divided into an octave followed by a sestet and the rhyme scheme was “abba abba cde cde“. He followed the English division, in which the sonnet was divided into three quatrain which successively lead to the final couplet, that may either re-inforce or refutes what has been set. He felt that this division gave him more freedom to elaborate his ideas. The rhyme scheme was “abab cdcd efef gg”.

-The beginning of the sonnet.

Shakespeare used to begin his sonnets either with imperatives or with statements.

-Imagery.

Shakespeare sonnets are rich in imagery that was taken from almost every field in life. You may find imagery from gardening, navigation, law, business, astrology and domestic affairs.

-Mood.

Shakespeare’s sonnets are expressed in various moods; they may express delight, melancholy, shame, disgust or fear.

From this, we see that Shakespeare’s sonnets differed from other sonnets before him, there was controversy over publication of the sonnets and there were attempts to re-arrange them. Some critics say that Shakespeare’s sonnets are totally personal, because they are an outlet for Shakespeare’s feelings and passions. Any how the sonnets vary in quality.

See you later, all my love to you.