Sonnet

In the arms of my mother, I find comfort like no other.

In Sonnet XVIII, the "eye of heaven" refers to the sun. The speaker compares the beauty of the youth to the sun's radiant and eternal nature, suggesting that the youth's beauty will also be immortalized through the power of poetry.

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare is often referred to as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" It is a love poem that celebrates the beauty and eternal nature of the speaker's beloved. The speaker compares their beloved to a summer's day and emphasizes that their beauty will never fade, as it will be preserved through the poem.

In Petrarch Sonnet 18, the imagery of light is used to symbolize the beauty and brilliance of the beloved. Light is depicted as illuminating and enhancing the speaker's perception of the beloved's virtues and qualities. It acts as a metaphor for the beloved's radiance and allure, emphasizing their spiritual and physical splendor.

Unattainable love is a central theme in Petrarch's sonnets. The object of his affection, Laura, is often depicted as a distant, idealized figure that he can never fully possess. This unattainability adds to the intense longing and yearning present in Petrarchan poetry.

Sonnet 39 by William Shakespeare explores the theme of jealousy and insecurity within a romantic relationship. The speaker expresses feelings of inadequacy and suspicion towards their beloved, highlighting the challenges that arise from doubts and fears in love. Shakespeare uses the sonnet form to convey the complexities of human emotions and the fragility of relationships.

Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare is also frequently called "Shall I compare thee to a summer day". This sonnet does not have similes in it--it is a metaphor. A simile is when you compare one thing to another using "as" or "like" (The room was as hot as the sun). In sonnet 18 the narrator describes a summer day but is actually talking about all the ways in which the object of the sonnet is pleasing to him.

In Sonnet 30, Shakespeare depicts love as a powerful force that can alleviate sadness by invoking memories of past joys. Sonnet 55 asserts that true love can transcend time and secure one's legacy through immortalizing one's beloved in verse. Sonnet 116 emphasizes the enduring nature of true love by defining it as a constant and unwavering force that is not subject to change.

The paradox in Sonnet 55 by William Shakespeare is the idea that the poem itself can defy time and preserve the memory of the beloved for eternity, despite the inevitable decay caused by time. This paradox highlights the power of art and poetry to transcend temporal limitations.

Yes, sonnets are a popular form of poetry commonly associated with themes of love, but they can also explore a wide range of topics, from nature to politics to personal reflections. Shakespeare's sonnets, for example, cover various themes beyond love, such as time, beauty, and mortality.

Both Sonnet 30 and Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare explore themes of despair and longing for something lost or unattainable. In Sonnet 30, the speaker reflects on past sorrows, while Sonnet 29 expresses feelings of inadequacy and envy. Both sonnets ultimately convey a sense of hope and redemption through the power of memory and love.

Figurative language is any kind of language where the words do not mean precisely (literally) what they say.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 is not an obvious sonnet to choose for examples of figurative language (for a number of reasons): but when Shakespeare says that he does not want to 'admit impediment' to Love, that is an example of figurative language. He does not literally mean that he worries that Love might stumble over something, he just says that he is not going to criticise true love in any way.

Similarly, later, when he calls love a 'star to every wandering bark' he does not literally mean that Love appears in the night sky; he means that love is how we navigate our lives - so this is also figurative language.

There is more figurative language in this sonnet, but now that you know what you are looking for - you will probably be able to find your own.

Pros of a Shakespearean sonnet include its established structure (14 lines and iambic pentameter) that provides a clear framework for expression, and its rhyme scheme (abab cdcd efef gg) that can create a musical and memorable quality. Cons may include the strict guidelines which can limit creativity and expression, and the challenge of maintaining the form and rhyme scheme while conveying complex ideas or emotions.

The speaker in Sonnet 29 feels despondent and envious of others due to his own perceived shortcomings. He longs for the qualities and blessings that seem to come easily to others, leading him to question his own self-worth.

The Soldier is a sonnet because it follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, specifically the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet form. This includes having 14 lines of iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme (abbaabba for the octave and cdcdcd for the sestet). Additionally, the sonnet form allows for the concise expression of deep and complex emotions, making it fitting for themes such as love and war which are present in The Soldier.

The repetition of "I love thee" in Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning emphasizes the depth and intensity of the speaker's love for the subject. It serves to reinforce the idea that the love is all-consuming and unwavering.

The phrase "not in a sliver casket" is often used to convey that something is not hidden or concealed at all. It implies transparency or openness, as opposed to being carefully guarded or protected.

The most famous love sonnets in English are those by Shakespeare (though there are many more).

Among his best is sonnet 130:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

The term that best describes the device used by Spenser in Sonnet 30 when he combines fire and ice is a metaphor. The poet uses fire and ice to symbolize the contrasting emotions of desire and hatred, emphasizing the extremes of passion and coldness in the context of love.

Shakespeare actually wrote in modern English, and the verb form you are asking about is, though now very rare, still in occasional use. Basically the story is this: if you see a familiar word with "-st" on the end, you will probably find the pronoun "thou" lurking close by. "Thou" always takes verbs ending in -st; "thou thinkest" is the same as "you (singular) think". Shakespeare used them interchangeably. Note this passage from King Lear:

Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest,

Lend less than thou owest,

Ride more than thou goest,

Equals show, know, owe, and go. "Growest" obviously is "grow"

The comment that Spencer makes of love in his final couplet is 'such is the power of love in gentle mind that it can alter all the course of kind.' He expresses his true love in this comment.

SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking) is used for high-speed telecommunications networks to provide reliable and efficient data transmission over fiber optic cables. It offers synchronous data transmission, enabling multiple data streams to be multiplexed and transmitted over a single optical fiber. SONET is commonly used in backbone networks to support high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming, internet connectivity, and phone services.

A sickle is a small hand-tool for cutting grain.

In sonnet 116 Shakespeare is talking about The Grim Reaper (though Shakespeare calls The Grim Reaper 'Time' - instead of the more usual 'Death').

So the sickle in this poem is a symbol for death.

The final couplet of Spenser's Sonnet 26 says: "Why then should I account of little pain,/That endless pleasure shall unto me gain." This means that things worth having are worth putting some effort into acquiring.

In Sonnet 30, Spencer uses "Fire and Ice" as a metaphor for the conflicting emotions of love. Fire symbolizes passion and desire, while ice represents coldness and indifference. By juxtaposing these elements, Spencer conveys the intense highs and lows of romantic love.