Sonnet 78 is taken from the collection of “Shakespeare’s sonnets” according to Duncan Jones probably dedicated to William Herbert (Duncan Jones, 85). It is the first sonnet of the group of the rival sonnets running from Sonnet 78 to 86 (Duncan Jones, 65). A common aspect in these sonnets is that rival poets challenge the poet in his poetry for the young man’s favour. A subtheme in the rival poet series is the poet’s expression of love, balanced against the artistic style of others. It will therefore be interesting to have a closer look at how the lyrical speaker tries to win the fight for the young man’s affection over his rivals in this particular sonnet and which strategies he applies to prove that, despite his inferior talent, he is worthier than his rivals.
By responding to these questions, there will be given evidence for the thesis that the speaker’s superiority to his contestants lies in his honest affection to his beloved. The young man thus being supposed to value the poet’s lines not for their outmoded “style” but for the love they express.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Legal Ownership vs. Illegal Imitation
- 3 Inferiority in style vs. superiority in love
- 4 Artificial Style versus Simplicity
- 5 References to erotic love
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this analysis is to examine Shakespeare's Sonnet 78, focusing on how the speaker asserts his superiority over rival poets in his pursuit of the young man's affection. The analysis explores the speaker's strategies for proving his worthiness despite perceived inferior talent.
- Legal ownership versus illegal imitation of the young man's inspiration.
- The contrast between the speaker's inferior poetic talent and his superior love for the young man.
- The juxtaposition of the speaker's simple style against the rivals' artificial style.
- The role of erotic love in establishing the speaker's unique connection to the young man.
- The influence of the young man's inspiration on the speaker's poetry.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet 78, situating it within the context of the "rival poet" sonnets (Sonnets 78-86) and highlighting the common theme of competing poets vying for the young man's favor. The chapter introduces the central question: how does the speaker establish his superiority over his rivals, despite acknowledging his less refined poetic style? The introduction also briefly outlines the sonnet's formal structure and the chapter's analytical approach, promising a chronological examination of the sonnet's quatrains, focusing on the speaker's claims of ownership, dependence on his muse, stylistic contrasts, and expressions of erotic love. The chapter concludes by noting the structural division of the sonnet into octave and sestet, mirrored syntactically by a full stop at the end of line 8, thereby indicating a semantic opposition between these two parts of the sonnet.
2 Legal Ownership vs. Illegal Imitation: This chapter analyzes the first quatrain of Sonnet 78, focusing on the speaker's assertion of legal ownership of the young man as his muse, contrasting this with the dishonest imitation of the rival poets. The analysis delves into the use of language to establish this contrast. For example, the frequent use of the possessive pronoun "my" emphasizes the speaker's unique connection to the young man. The ambiguity of terms like "alien" and "every" is explored, suggesting either a modest downplaying of the speaker's talent or a questioning of the rivals' ability. The chapter further explores the metaphor of "under thee," highlighting the speaker's patronage by the young man and the implication that the rivals lack such a connection. The chapter also examines the word "compile," revealing its Latin root and subtly reinforcing the implication of theft and dishonesty among the rivals.
3 Inferiority in style vs. superiority in love: The analysis shifts to the second quatrain, where the speaker acknowledges his inferior poetic talent compared to his rivals but emphasizes the transformative power of the young man's inspiration. The chapter explores antithetical pairings highlighting this contrast, such as "dumb" versus "learned" and "ignorance" versus "grace." Metaphors of flight and singing demonstrate the elevation and empowerment the speaker experiences through the young man's inspiration. The chapter notes the irony that "learned" scholars were often considered dull poets, questioning the true skill of the speaker's rivals. The chapter further examines the speaker's total dependence on the young man, illustrated by the phrase "thou art all my art," indicating a unique and intimate connection.
4 Artificial Style versus Simplicity: This section delves into the third quatrain, focusing on the contrast between the rivals' artificial and overloaded style and the speaker's simple but deeply heartfelt poetry. The chapter examines the bird metaphor of "added feathers to the learned's wing," linking it to the concept of artificially enhancing poetic skill. The analysis highlights the rivals' "double majesty," resulting from the young man's inspiration, but argues that this is an artificial augmentation rather than genuine poetic excellence. The chapter contrasts this with the speaker's simple style, evident in the homonymic pun "thou art all my art," demonstrating the pure and unadulterated influence of the young man's inspiration on his work. The chapter emphasizes that despite its simplicity, the speaker's poetry is superior because it is genuinely inspired by the young man's influence.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Shakespeare's Sonnets, Sonnet 78, rival poets, muse, inspiration, love, poetic style, simple versus artificial style, legal ownership, imitation, erotic love, poetic talent, dependence, influence.
Shakespeare's Sonnet 78: A Comprehensive Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis examines Shakespeare's Sonnet 78, focusing on how the speaker asserts his superiority over rival poets in his pursuit of the young man's affection. It explores the speaker's strategies for proving his worthiness despite perceived inferior talent.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes: the legal ownership versus illegal imitation of the young man's inspiration; the contrast between the speaker's inferior poetic talent and his superior love for the young man; the juxtaposition of the simple style against the rivals' artificial style; the role of erotic love in establishing a unique connection to the young man; and the influence of the young man's inspiration on the speaker's poetry.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured chronologically, examining each quatrain of Sonnet 78. It begins with an introduction that situates Sonnet 78 within the context of the "rival poet" sonnets and outlines the analytical approach. Subsequent chapters delve into specific themes within each quatrain, focusing on the speaker's claims of ownership, dependence on his muse, stylistic contrasts, and expressions of erotic love.
How does the analysis address the speaker's perceived inferior poetic talent?
The analysis acknowledges the speaker's self-professed inferior poetic talent compared to his rivals. However, it emphasizes the transformative power of the young man's inspiration, arguing that the speaker's simple, heartfelt poetry, genuinely inspired by his love, surpasses the artificial and overloaded style of his rivals.
What is the significance of the "legal ownership" theme?
The "legal ownership" theme highlights the speaker's assertion of a unique and exclusive connection to the young man, contrasting this with the rivals' perceived dishonest imitation. The analysis explores the use of language to establish this contrast, including possessive pronouns and ambiguous terms, to convey the speaker's claim to the young man's inspiration.
How does the analysis contrast simple and artificial styles?
The analysis contrasts the rivals' "artificial" and "overloaded" style with the speaker's "simple" yet deeply felt poetry. It examines metaphors and imagery to illustrate this contrast, arguing that the speaker's genuine inspiration results in superior poetry, despite its simplicity.
What is the role of erotic love in the sonnet and the analysis?
Erotic love plays a significant role in establishing the speaker's unique connection to the young man. The analysis explores how the speaker's passionate love fuels his poetry and sets him apart from the rivals who lack this intimate bond.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Shakespeare's Sonnets, Sonnet 78, rival poets, muse, inspiration, love, poetic style, simple versus artificial style, legal ownership, imitation, erotic love, poetic talent, dependence, and influence.
What is the chapter summary of the introduction?
The introduction sets the stage for the analysis of Sonnet 78, situating it within the context of the "rival poet" sonnets and highlighting the central question of how the speaker establishes superiority despite acknowledging a less refined style. It outlines the sonnet's structure and analytical approach, promising a chronological examination of the quatrains, focusing on ownership, dependence, stylistic contrasts, and erotic love. It also notes the structural and semantic division between the octave and sestet.
What are the chapter summaries of the remaining chapters?
The remaining chapters analyze each quatrain of Sonnet 78, focusing on specific themes. Chapter 2 explores the speaker's assertion of legal ownership versus the rivals' illegal imitation. Chapter 3 contrasts the speaker's inferior style with his superior love. Chapter 4 examines the contrast between the rivals' artificial style and the speaker's simple style.
- Quote paper
- Francesca Cavaliere (Author), 2008, Shakespeare's sonnet 78. True love and its positive effects on writing, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/319732