Nowadays sonnets, or probably even lyric in general, are not very popular anymore. That was quite different in the Elizabethan era when sonnet-writing was widespread during the so called “sonnet vogue” at the end of the 16th century. A lot of sonnets were written during that time by poets like Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser or of course William Shakespeare, whose sonnet sequence contains 154 sonnets in total. Some of Shakespeare’s sonnets are still very well-known today and are read and analysed by students in schools or universities.
To get a better understanding of these poems, an important aspect one should be concerned with is the addressee of each sonnet. Shakespeare had two major addressees for his sonnets: The “Fair Youth” – respectively the “Young Man” – and the “Dark Lady” whose identities are still a matter of speculation even today.
The first part of Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence, namely sonnets 1–126, is directed to the “Young Man”, while sonnets 127–154 are written to the “Dark Lady”.
But how are these figures – the young man and the dark lady - portrayed by the poetic persona? What does this portrayal tell the reader about the relationship between persona and addressee? Are these relationships of a similar nature or do they differ in some aspects?
In this paper I am first going to deal with the “Fair Youth” sequence: There will be a short characterisation of this figure before I will concern myself with the relationship to the poetic persona. After a brief summary of these results the “Dark Lady” sonnets will be examined in the same manner while regarding the results about the “Young Man” I achieved before. These points will be executed by looking at several sonnets in detail. For the “Fair Youth” section these are going to be sonnets 18, 20, 26, and 116; for the “Dark Lady” sonnets I will deal with sonnets 127, 130, 129, and 144. At the end I will recapitulate the ascertained outcomes in a conclusion.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Analysis
- 2.1 The "Fair Youth" Sonnets
- 2.1.1 Characterisation of the 'Fair Youth'
- 2.1.2 Relationship to the Poetic Persona
- 2.1.3 Summary
- 2.2 The "Dark Lady" Sonnets
- 2.2.1 Characterisation of the ‘Dark Lady’
- 2.2.2 Relationship to the Poetic Persona
- 2.2.3 Summary
- 2.1 The "Fair Youth" Sonnets
- 3. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady" in Shakespeare's sonnets and explore the nature of their relationships with the poetic persona. The analysis will examine how these figures are characterized and how their relationships contribute to the overall understanding of the sonnet sequence.
- Characterisation of the "Fair Youth"
- Characterisation of the "Dark Lady"
- Nature of the relationship between the poetic persona and the "Fair Youth"
- Nature of the relationship between the poetic persona and the "Dark Lady"
- Comparison and contrast between the two relationships
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of Shakespeare's sonnets within the Elizabethan "sonnet vogue," highlighting their enduring relevance and popularity. It introduces the central figures of the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady," whose identities remain a subject of debate, and outlines the paper's objective: to analyze the characterization of these figures and their relationships with the poetic persona. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis by focusing on the significance of understanding the addressees in interpreting Shakespeare's sonnets.
2. Analysis: This chapter is the core of the paper and is divided into two main sections focusing on the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady" sonnets, respectively. It meticulously examines the portrayal of each figure in selected sonnets, analyzing their physical attributes, personality traits, and the emotional dynamics of their relationships with the poetic persona. The analysis delves into the language and imagery used by Shakespeare to depict these characters, exploring both the similarities and differences in how the relationships are presented. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the complex relationship between the poetic persona and its muses.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Shakespearean sonnets, "Fair Youth," "Dark Lady," poetic persona, characterization, relationship analysis, Elizabethan era, sonnet vogue, homosexual relationship, platonic relationship.
Shakespearean Sonnets: A Comprehensive Analysis - FAQ
What is the purpose of this paper?
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady" in Shakespeare's sonnets and explore the nature of their relationships with the poetic persona. The analysis examines how these figures are characterized and how their relationships contribute to the overall understanding of the sonnet sequence.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include the characterization of the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady," the nature of their relationships with the poetic persona, and a comparison and contrast between these two relationships.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes an Introduction, an Analysis section (further divided into subsections on the "Fair Youth" and "Dark Lady" sonnets, each with sub-subsections on characterization, relationship with the poetic persona, and a summary), and a Conclusion.
How are the "Fair Youth" and "Dark Lady" characterized in the analysis?
The analysis meticulously examines the portrayal of each figure in selected sonnets, analyzing their physical attributes, personality traits, and the emotional dynamics of their relationships with the poetic persona. The analysis delves into the language and imagery used by Shakespeare to depict these characters.
What is the scope of the chapter on the "Fair Youth"?
The section on the "Fair Youth" sonnets analyzes the characterization of the "Fair Youth," the nature of the relationship between the "Fair Youth" and the poetic persona, and provides a summary of the findings.
What is the scope of the chapter on the "Dark Lady"?
The section on the "Dark Lady" sonnets analyzes the characterization of the "Dark Lady," the nature of the relationship between the "Dark Lady" and the poetic persona, and provides a summary of the findings.
What is the significance of the Introduction?
The Introduction establishes the context of Shakespeare's sonnets within the Elizabethan "sonnet vogue," highlighting their enduring relevance and popularity. It introduces the central figures of the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady" and outlines the paper's objective: to analyze their characterization and relationships with the poetic persona. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the addressees for interpreting the sonnets.
What is the role of the Conclusion?
The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the analysis of the "Fair Youth" and "Dark Lady" sonnets, offering a synthesis of the insights gained from examining the characterization and relationships within Shakespeare's work. (Note: The provided HTML does not detail the content of the Conclusion.)
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Shakespearean sonnets, "Fair Youth," "Dark Lady," poetic persona, characterization, relationship analysis, Elizabethan era, sonnet vogue, homosexual relationship, platonic relationship.
What is the overall approach of the analysis?
The analysis uses a comprehensive approach, examining characterization, relationships, and the language and imagery employed by Shakespeare to present these complex figures and their interactions with the poetic persona. The analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the complex relationships between the poetic persona and its muses.
- Quote paper
- Eva Schiffbauer (Author), 2016, The ‘Fair Youth’ and the ‘Dark Lady’ in Shakespeare’s sonnets and their relationship to the Poetic Persona, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336527