Josh McDermett
English
Mr. Wright
9/22/11 Sonnet XVII Explications
In sonnet XVII, Shakespeare states that all the poems he has written about this person’s beauty will be doubted unless they produce children to show that such beauty is possible. Therefore the tone of the poem is worry and doubt about the future combined with urgency. The theme that the only way for someone’s legacy to truly live forever is if they have children who can display a persons attributes into the future. This theme is shown in the poem when Shakespeare describes how people inn the future will not believe his poetry about a beautiful person unless they have a child who can convey the beauty through their inherited traits.
In the first quatrain Shakespeare asks the question “who will believe my verse” displaying the doubt that he has that his sonnets will be believed. In the next quatrain Shakespeare expresses his worry that if he was able to put the subjects beauty into verse then people in the coming age “would say ‘This poet lies’”, because they would not believe that this beauty was possible. Worry is also shown in the final quatrain because in the future shakepseare says that the subjects true rights will be “term’d a poet’s rage” and he wouldn’t be remembered. In the couplet Shakespeare urgency comes out as he encourages the subject to have a child so that he won’t be forgotten.
In the first and second quatrain the theme is shown as Shakespeare describes that in time to come only heaven will know the beauty of him/her and people will not believe that such heavenly features could be possible on a human. The final couplet also displays the theme because Shakespeare says that in order for this person’s beauty to live on for future generations he must reproduce so that he can live in the poet and in the flesh of his child.
Shakespeare’s 17th sonnet uses tones of doubt, worry, and urgency to display the theme that the only way a person’s remembrance can be extended pass death is through their posterity.
English
Mr. Wright
9/22/11
Sonnet XVII Explications
In sonnet XVII, Shakespeare states that all the poems he has written about this person’s beauty will be doubted unless they produce children to show that such beauty is possible. Therefore the tone of the poem is worry and doubt about the future combined with urgency. The theme that the only way for someone’s legacy to truly live forever is if they have children who can display a persons attributes into the future. This theme is shown in the poem when Shakespeare describes how people inn the future will not believe his poetry about a beautiful person unless they have a child who can convey the beauty through their inherited traits.
In the first quatrain Shakespeare asks the question “who will believe my verse” displaying the doubt that he has that his sonnets will be believed. In the next quatrain Shakespeare expresses his worry that if he was able to put the subjects beauty into verse then people in the coming age “would say ‘This poet lies’”, because they would not believe that this beauty was possible. Worry is also shown in the final quatrain because in the future shakepseare says that the subjects true rights will be “term’d a poet’s rage” and he wouldn’t be remembered. In the couplet Shakespeare urgency comes out as he encourages the subject to have a child so that he won’t be forgotten.
In the first and second quatrain the theme is shown as Shakespeare describes that in time to come only heaven will know the beauty of him/her and people will not believe that such heavenly features could be possible on a human. The final couplet also displays the theme because Shakespeare says that in order for this person’s beauty to live on for future generations he must reproduce so that he can live in the poet and in the flesh of his child.
Shakespeare’s 17th sonnet uses tones of doubt, worry, and urgency to display the theme that the only way a person’s remembrance can be extended pass death is through their posterity.