Andrea Gerber 2/12/13 ENG 2100

Sonnet 29 Analyzation

Sonnet 29, written by Shakespeare, is one of the one hundred and fiftyfour sonnets written dealing with themes such as time, love, beauty, and mortality. In the sonnet, the speaker talks of a time in their life when they are in despair, the articulate phrasing of words show that the theme of the poem is jealousy and searching for self-acceptance.

The speaker is envious of their peers and is a social outcast. He states that he wishes he had the physical appearance and the friendships of one, the artistic talent of another, and the intelligence of a third peer. He has even cried out to God, but his pleas to be different go unheard-this brings up the point that in order to be different, he must be the one to change himself. At the end of the sonnet, the speaker states that he would not compromise his emotional connection to his loved one or to God and despite his dislike in himself, he is happy with his relationship with the ruler of Heaven.

In most of Shakespeare's work, he uses the well-known device called iambic

pentameter. An iambic pentameter is broken up into certain parts: a meter, an iab and a foot. A meter is the measured pattern of a rhythmic accent in a poem. The iab is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. Lastly, the foot is a metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables. These three minidevices come together to show patterns that give specific attention to the words of the sonnet in order to help the reader understand the purpose of the poem better. Three literary devices, along with the use of iambic pentameter that help distinguish the theme of the poem are symbolism, metaphor and personification.

Shakespeare uses symbolism multiple times throughout this sonnet. The strongest example of this in line eleven, describing his lover as a lark. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a lark, or skylark, is a "bird of the family Alaudidae, and it soars towards the sky (up to the heavens) while singing." So, the speaker is portraying his lover as a lovely as a songbird singing to the Heavens (which is his connection to God). In line 13, the wealth that is brought to said speaker comes every time he thinks of his lover. This is symbolism because it shows love can be just as strong, if not stronger than this darkness the speaker has let take over him. It shows this love he has is strong enough to pull someone from their darkest times.

Metaphors were used in the same lines that described sybolism. In lines ten through twelve, as stated, the speaker compares his love to the lark. Shakespeare uses this metaphor to express how happy the speaker is thinking about his true love, it can even be called a "heavenly" experience. Sonnet 29 has been said to be part of the set where Shakespeare wrote about love, modelled after a love in his life.

Lastly, it is a small piece within the sonnet, but the use of personification can be found within line three. Shakespeare has given Heaven human like characteristics, ("And trouble deaf heaven...") such as the ability to hear. This personification is used to emphasize the lonliness and outcast feeling that the speaker feels. He is so outcasted, even God will not answer his wishes.

When you combine these three literary devices, they help show the main theme or central tension of this poem. Using each device, Shakespeare has shown that the theme of the poem is jealousy and searching for self-acceptance, but that with the help of love and belief in God, everything can be better.

Andreaunfortunately, this draft is not up to par to be handed in; this is what I

would consider your personal shitty first draft. It is not the required word count or format, and is not written in formal language. In addition, there is no cohesion between paragraphsyou mention approximately five different devices, have few textual and cited examples, and, those examples are not clearly tied to the interpretation. You do have some good ideas-- but they are not developed fully as needed for an essay. Ive made some comments to help you revise this extensively for your portfolio. I might suggest taking this draft to the WRC for in-depth feedback. If youd like to meet with me for more help, let me know and we can schedule an appointment. MS. C.

"Discover the Story of EnglishMore than 600,000 Words, over a Thousand Years." Home : Oxford English Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least: Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee,--and then my state (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings'.