Sonnet 29
Reading Response: Sonnet 29
Aaron James Faulkner
ENG125: Introduction to Literature
Professor Raymond Nowak
29 January 2012
Reading Response: Sonnet 29 The poem I have chosen to evaluate is Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare (1609), which has an iambic pentameter rhythm pattern. The three literary elements I will explore are tone, conflict and style. William Shakespeare is arguably known as the greatest English-language writer of drama and poetry (Clugston, 2010). The tone of Sonnet 29 is that of depression. The opening line says “in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes” which means he is having bad luck and is viewed with disgrace by the public. By the reinforcement in line 2, “beweep in my outcast state”, his state refers to his state of being. That line represents him being out casted from society. Skipping on to lines 5-9 the poet finds himself envying what the others have that he does not; wealth, friends, popularity and artistic talent. Line 10-12 describes his love on his “state” or emotional well-being. It can be assumed that the lark rising from the “sullen earth” at the “break of day” means that the day is more joyful than it is at night. Finally, the last two lines say that he would not change his state of being because his loyalty to the ‘fair lord’ is better than all the wealth of a king. The tone of Sonnet 29 is certainly negative and emotional but in the end the protagonist is content about his future. He might not be popular within his society or have talents that he sees in others but in the end he will be with God. You have to accept what life gives you and be happy with who you are because in the end you will be rewarded. The conflict in Sonnet 29, as mentioned above with the tone, is that the protagonist is struggling to be accepted and desires many things he does not have. In many ways, it is a plea for help. “Sonnet 29 shows the poet at his most insecure and troubled. He feels unlucky, shamed, and fiercely
Aaron James Faulkner
ENG125: Introduction to Literature
Professor Raymond Nowak
29 January 2012
Reading Response: Sonnet 29 The poem I have chosen to evaluate is Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare (1609), which has an iambic pentameter rhythm pattern. The three literary elements I will explore are tone, conflict and style. William Shakespeare is arguably known as the greatest English-language writer of drama and poetry (Clugston, 2010). The tone of Sonnet 29 is that of depression. The opening line says “in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes” which means he is having bad luck and is viewed with disgrace by the public. By the reinforcement in line 2, “beweep in my outcast state”, his state refers to his state of being. That line represents him being out casted from society. Skipping on to lines 5-9 the poet finds himself envying what the others have that he does not; wealth, friends, popularity and artistic talent. Line 10-12 describes his love on his “state” or emotional well-being. It can be assumed that the lark rising from the “sullen earth” at the “break of day” means that the day is more joyful than it is at night. Finally, the last two lines say that he would not change his state of being because his loyalty to the ‘fair lord’ is better than all the wealth of a king. The tone of Sonnet 29 is certainly negative and emotional but in the end the protagonist is content about his future. He might not be popular within his society or have talents that he sees in others but in the end he will be with God. You have to accept what life gives you and be happy with who you are because in the end you will be rewarded. The conflict in Sonnet 29, as mentioned above with the tone, is that the protagonist is struggling to be accepted and desires many things he does not have. In many ways, it is a plea for help. “Sonnet 29 shows the poet at his most insecure and troubled. He feels unlucky, shamed, and fiercely
References: Clugston, R. (2010). Journey into Literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.content.ashford.edu Mabillard, A. (2000). Analysis of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29. Retrieved from http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/29detail.html