William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare Sonnet 71 Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

What is the poet saying? • Quatrain 1“No longer mourn for me when I am dead Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell.” (1-4) Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 1 • The speaker asks to be forgotten when he dies • He suggests that he is leaving a “vile world” to dwell “with vilest worms.” • Worms=death and decay • Vile=disgusting Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 1 • The word vile is used to describe the worms and the world • The speaker does not think highly of the world Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 1 • Death bell • Rings to inform the world of his passing • Vocabulary • Surly—bad tempered, unfriendly, rude • Sullen—showing bad temper by a refusal to talk; hostilely silent Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 2 • “Nay, if you read this line, remember notThe hand that writ it; for I love you soThat I in your sweet thoughts would be forgotIf thinking on me then should make you woe.” (5-8) Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 2 • The speaker would rather be forgotten that cause sadness to this person • Introduction of main theme • Love • I would rather you forget I ever existed than cause you any pain Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 3 • “O, if, I say, you look upon this verseWhen I, perhaps, compounded am with clay,Do not so much as my poor name rehearse,But let your love even with my life decay,” (9-12) Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 3 • The speaker asks to be completely forgotten. • If you come across my poetry, do not think of me; rather, allow your memory of me to decay just as my body decays in the ground. • Very unselfish Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Quatrain 3 • Vocabulary • Compounded—mixture (his body and the earth will become one as his body decays) • Rehearse—to practice something before performing Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Couplet • “Lest the wise world should look into your moanAnd mock you with me after I am gone.” (13-14) • The speaker suggests that the world will mock and take advantage of his beloved because of his sadness. • Is this how the world is? Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

How does he go about saying it? • Poetic Devices • Shakespearean Sonnet • Rhyme Scheme • ababcdcdefefgg • 3 quatrains and 1 couplet Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Meter ᴗ ´ ᴗ ´ ᴗ ´ ᴗ ´ ᴗ ´ No longer mourn for me when I am dead Iambic Pentameter Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Symbolism • “vilest worms” • Death Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Tone • Sad • Selfless Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

Theme • Death? • Love? Geschke/British Literature Shakespeare Sonnet 71

William Shakespeare