William Shakespeare is very well known for his plays, however he also has written a group of 154 sonnets. The first seventeen sonnets from this collection are known as the “procreation sonnets.” In sonnets 1-17, Shakespeare addresses a young man about seventeen years old, and encourages him to find a wife, and, more importantly, “procreate” children.
Select two of the “procreation” sonnets from the collection on the site listed below, and compare and contrast them. Focus on theme, word choice, and structure. Be sure to use textual evidence. Also, be sure to be clear which sonnets you are talking about.
http://poetry.eserver.org/sonnets/
By Brooks, Christiana, Alex
Shakespeare's first 17 sonnets are very interesting as they instruct a young man on how he should act and what paths he should take in life. There is definitely a vast difference between the 3rd and 16th sonnets as they advise two very different things. In the third sonnet, Shakespeare adamantly encourages the young man to procreate with his wife and live up to his husbandly duties and take responsibility. Shakespeare reminds the young man to be unselfish for "what of his self love [is] to stop posterity?" The young man must follow this guidance or he will die lonely and without a legacy. Later on, in the sixteenth sonnet, Shakespeare changes his tone slightly. His stance has shifted from a life that requires procreation and responsibility to a life that does not exactly demand offspring and legacies. Shakespeare is then telling the young man that marriage is still important, but it is not the worst things on the back burner for a while. Shakespeare directly tells the young man to "live drawn by [his] own sweet skill," clearly stating that he need not rush into marriage.
ReplyDeleteDespite their differences in theme and message, both of the sonnets follow the strict guidelines of the time that have become known as Shakespearean sonnets. They both have 14 lines, each with 3 quatrains and ending with a couplet. This pattern creates the following rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Another similarity between the two sonnets was the fact that they both included very flowery language. Nowhere in either poem does Shakespeare come right out and clearly deliver his message. His intricate language and diction leaves much interpretation up to the reader, making his poetry much more challenging to comprehend.
In his seventeen sonnets, William Shakespeare gives life advice and lessons through poetry. In sonnets 8 and 16, the lessons and advice Shakespeare offers contrasts one another. In his 8th sonnet, Shakespeare uses music to the ears a a symbol for being married and the music and marriage will only bring happiness if the young man follows his advice and has "mutual ordering" and "speechless song". Shakespeare encourages the young man to find a sound that will be pleasing to his ear because "singleness" is not a sweet sound like marriage and a "happy mother". While his 8th sonnet tells the young man to get married, Shakespeare's 16th sonnet tells the man he can only get ahead "by your own sweet skill". The young man is also advised to not linger in "your decay" meaning he should not grumble about his misfortune but he should use his knowledge and skills to be successful. This is quite different than the 8th sonnet because he said he needed to not be single and now he is saying he only needs himself. But they both advise different happiness and success. The 8th advises how to be happy emotionally and the 16th how to be happy skill and trade wise. Both sonnets have the elaborate language and a rhyme pattern that follows a ABAB CDCD etc. form with variations and words that do not match the pattern written through out. William Shakespeare's poetry is timeless leaving his advice in his sonnets open to many different interpretations.
ReplyDeleteIn William Shakespeare's Procreation Sonnets, he utilizes many similarities in structure, word choice, and theme to create a cohesive group of sonnets that tell a story and send a clear message. He uses these same techniques to distinguish each sonnet from the next in a way that still unifies them as a whole. Sonnets II and VI show very clearly the similarities and differences in everything from structure to theme that help to relay Shakespeare's message of procreation. One of the immediately recognizable similarities between sonnet II and VI is the structure. Each sonnet has an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. This seems to be where the similarities end between the two sonnets. In sonnet II, the poet seems to be telling the boy that he will succumb to age and his youth is far behind him. He must have children that preserve his youth and portray the handsome beauty that he once had. Sonnet VI however, encourages him to not let his youth slip away, but procreate now when he is young and lively. While Sonnet II tells him what his life will be like if he chooses not to have children until he is old and wasting away, Sonnet VI portrays a life of having children young and preserving one's youth through children. While both sonnets maintain the same rhyme scheme, they do not relay the same message. Each of the sonnets portrays a different perspective. In sonnet II it describes how life would be shameful and unfulfilling without children, while Sonnet VI describes the overwhelming joy brought about by marriage and children. Each of the sonnets, different and similar in many aspects, with the common thread of procreation, are able to create a cohesive collection.
ReplyDeleteI choose sonnet 2 and sonnet 3. The two sonnets compare in structure. Both have the basic sonnet structure with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG pattern. They both focus on the tragic situations of a man if he did not procreate children. Sonnet 2 gives the sense of loneliness and regret of not having children leaving the man by himself only to have the feeling of remorse of being too proud. The man realizes that his pride is a "tattered weed of small worth held" after knowing that now "his beauty by succession" can never happen and he cannot fullfill his life without children. Sonnet 2 also discusses the punishments and consequences of not marrying and having children, but Shakespeare presents this sonnet in a warning tone rather than a tragic tone as in Sonnet 2. Sonnet 3 has the tone of an older experienced person telling a younger man of why he should have children. He warns the man that if one does not have children his memory and life will fade with his death. The older man presents the example of a wife when she looks at her children, she "calls back the lovely April of her prime," and sees youthful ageless self. When one has children, the children carry one through their lives the memory and lives of their parents. Shakespeare writes in the belief that procreation gives us immortality through our generations. Both sonnets discuss the outcomes of being alone without making a family. However sonnet 2 presents a situation where the tradgedy has already occured, while in sonnet 3 Shakespeare writes in a foretelling tone of what could happen to a single man. Both sonnets, while they differ in word choice and the dynamic of each sonnet, both relay Shakespeare's message of his belief in the urgency to create a family.
ReplyDeleteIn Shakespeare's "Procreation Sonnets" there is no doubt that there is a correlation with their theme. However, there is a definite contrast between Sonnet 1 and Sonnet 2. In Sonnet 1, the speaker addresses his subject as one that has experience, "From fairest creatures we desire increase." Noting that the speaker uses we it is evident that speaker is trying to give advice to his subject. In Sonnet 2, the speaker uses an ad hoc style of warning the audience about the perils of time,"When forty years have besieged thy brow." Using the diction such as "besieged" it is evident that this speaker wants to get the youth's attention quickly. Another way that these two sonnets differ is the rhyme scheme of the sonnets. Sonnet 1 has the rhyme scheme of abac bdbd efef gg, where as Sonnet 2 has the traditional rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. Though these sonnets differ, there is much that ties them together beyond the fact that they were both written by William Shakespeare. Both of these sonnets express the fleeting sweetness of youth and the importance to have children so that your mark on the world may be carried on. Thus, Shakespeare tried to express the same thing but in a different way with his sonnets.
ReplyDeleteThe art of procreation, both beautiful and life changing is encompassed by Shakespeare's first seventeen sonnets, and may hold another meaning, legacy. During the Victorian era, a big family was a necessity because of disease and other morbid factors ravaging each family, and one could never have to many laborers or heirs. Ii choose the first and the last sonnets, numbers one and seventeen.
ReplyDeleteIn the first sonnet Shakespeare begins with a happy tone as the, “fairest creatures,” create an eternal cycle of, “beauty's rose.” Picturing and encourage the beauty of procreation. Time will go on, but when the, “riper,” comes, there is hope in the heir to, “bear his memory.” Creating a sense that one will continue on though his children, his legacy. Later in the sonnet, he changes his tone upon procreation, saying that with, “abundance.” comes, “famine,” close behind. Shakespeare encourages procreation, but gives caution to the excess, and embraces moderation.
The seventeenth sonnet, begins with a different tone, it is more questioning than the first, and emphasizes the future. He questions, “who will believe,” him, “in time to come,” and even goes as far to infer that in the future readers would think, “this poet lies.” However, after he addresses his future criticism, he goes back to legacy., stating that, “were some child of yours alive,” in the coming time he fears no one will believe him, “you shall live twice, and in his rhyme.” Children are legacy, and poetry is Shakespeare's child, thus he lives forever within his poetry and literature.
Both poems address the theme of children carrying on the legacy after the parents are gone. However, two first poem is more focused the immediate death while the seventeenth poem lies further in the future. The two sonnets have different focus points, but they have a common bond, they have the same theme of eternity because of the children. This bond with eternity emphasizes the act of procreation because of the appealing nature of living forever. Also these poems have the typical ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme that every other poem within this series has in the above comments.
For my first sonnet I chose 12. It talks about time and how it creeps into healthy things and takes the strength from them, leaving them weak or dead. This was paralleled to winter sucking the life and beauty from plants and nature. In sonnet 15, Shakespeare describes life as a show for the stars in the sky, as they watch people thrive and suffer, as in comedies and tragedies. He also mentions that, “…every thing that grows/ Holds in perfection but a little moment”, saying that every living thing reaches a peak in their life where they are the strongest and healthiest they will ever be; everything up to that point they get stronger, everything following they are weaker. This relates to sonnet 12 talking about time coming along and taking away our youth, looks, and health. Both are, of course, in the rhyme scheme of the traditional Shakespearian sonnet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG). Also, another similarity is Shakespeare’s use of flowery, elevated language, and never coming out and saying what he means. Often that makes poems great, but I personally Shakespeare went a bit overboard with the language (especially when he goes and makes up his own words!) But, despite my personal attitude toward Shakespeare, he writes the two sonnets well and uses common themes of time and its effects on nature to link the two sonnets together nicely.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shakespeare is known by millions across the world as one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian Era. Yet only a portion of those know Shakespeare for his poetry. Shakespeare was able to recite an original sonnet in moments notice. However, he publicly wrote a series of 154 sonnets, with the first 17 known as the “procreation sonnets”. These sonnets are very similar in idea yet present it in many different ways. In Sonnet 1, Shakespeare presents the idea of time not allowing love to blossom. This parallels to the 11th Sonnet in such that it suggests that there is never enough time to fully love someone. “As fast as thou shalt wane so fast thou grow'st” From youth we head straight into adulthood. This is where the two sonnets take a turn from each other. The 11th sonnet elicits an idea of natural selection almost. An adult male should possess qualities such as “wisdom, [and] beauty”. This diverges from the first sonnet because sonnet 1 shows how a man wants a beautiful lover but simply has to settle for someone that he can learn to love. “Thy self thy foe, to thy sweet self to cruel”. While a beautiful mate is necessary to be happy in life its not the only thing that matters. Procreation is the one thing that stands above the rest. Both sonnets entice the reader into the idea of procreation with the deep connections to nature. Shakespeare clearly refers to words such as “riper”, “flame”, and “rose”. Nature brings life and therefore the connection to procreation. Both sonnets similarly follow the same rhyme pattern that each of his sonnets follow. They have the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and all have 14 lines, each with 3 quatrains. Shakespeare presents a overbearing theme of procreation over a course of 17 sonnets, however each sonnet takes a different approach to it, as well as connecting similar ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhen one writes a compilation of sonnets, like William Shakespeare, there is no surprise when a number of them have a reoccurring theme. As said through the blog question, this theme is one love and why a 17 year old boy is encouraged to find a wife and have children. Although indirectly, this theme relates to today because most people wish to find love and security and have kids who can essentially “carry on their legacy”.
ReplyDeleteFor this assignment I chose poems 3 and 13. These particular poems compare in their universal theme of love and sonnet rhyme scheme that has been shown through other blogs. They contrast, as expected, in how they convey this message but overall they stress how marriage and family is important to “living on”. In the third sonnet, the mother expresses how her son should marry and have his sould become one with another, “Now is the time that face should form another”. She worries that her son will die tragically and single with no legacy. In number thirteen, the mother talks of how the son is ready to give away/share the love he has been given as shown by the quote, “And your sweet semblance to some other give”. She says this, again, wanting his legacy to live on with the children he should have. She ends by saying the powerful words, “You had a father, let your son say so”.
Although from centuries ago, these poems are relatable in the sense no one wishes to die alone. Times have changed and we are no longer forced to marry as the young boy described but this obligation in sense falls on ourselves.
@Jessie- good attention to Shakespeare's use of diction and how it contributes to the tone of each of the sonnets. Good job!
ReplyDelete@Jessica- I completely agree that there are differences in tone withing these two sonnets. I love your comment on how poetry is the "child" of Shakespeare!
@Virginia- good attention to language of each sonnet and how that makes it different. I love how you compared winter to comedies and tragedies. I also love how you put your own personal opinion of his writing. Awesome job!
@Ray- Sonnets 1 and 11 really do intertwine in their themes and message. Way to catch how Shakespeare believed that being in love doesn't last. Great Job!
@Allison- I love how you related Shakespeare's belief to modern times and how society has completely changed the idea of mating and being in love. Good Job!
@Dan- I like how you suggested that Shakespeare's philosophy changed as time went along. Also, thanks for pointing out that Shakespeare's message is difficult to understand because of his flowery language.
ReplyDelete@Haley- Interesting that you and Dan pointed out a shift in Shakespeare's message over time. Great analysis of the music comparison!
@Margaret- Interesting comparison of the two messages! Thanks for pointing out the similarities in structure, word, choice, and theme.
@Lindsay- Very neat how you pointed out differences in word choice and found similarities in the message while others found the opposites. Great job!
Sonnet 10: The poet fairly upbraids his lady, telling her she should realize that she can't love anyone else because she obviously has no regard for herself . He accuses her of being "possessed with murd'rous hate" for herself. "Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?" Shakespeare asks his lady as he pleads with her for a relationship different than any she has with others. He asks her to change her heart toward him, that he may change his mind about her. By this point, the poet's unrelenting arguments for a child begin to sound a little desperate and he comes close in this sonnet to scorning her for not having his child. His sense of desperation is probably understandable, since the reader assumes the two are not married and thus childbirth would not be an expected outcome of their relationship. The difference in English society's mores during Shakespeare's time and the post-Puritan mores of both the British and American middle classes is nowhere more apparent than in this series of poems that implore his lover to bear his child, rather than ask for her hand in marriage.
ReplyDelete@Emily- I really like how your focused on the theme and gave insight that was deep which employed meaning because most of us find it true that you cannot love anyone else if you don't love yourself first. Great job!
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