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Sonnets
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Plot Summary of Sonnets
"These 154 poems constitute the most famous sonnet cycle in the English language. Many are addressed to a beautiful young man whom the poet admires and venerates, and urges to marry and raise children; others to a "Dark Lady" (i.e., not blonde) for whom the poet feels strong desire and sometimes revulsion (she's a bit free with her charms). Many of the sonnets meditate on the meaning of life and mortality, as well as beauty and love, and the difficulty of adequately putting all into words. As with the plays, the reader is apt to stumble upon a familiar phrase ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?", "...I summon up remembrance of things past," "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun," or "Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang"). Since the wordplay and wit are often complex, it helps to have a notated edition; I recommend the one edited by Stephen Booth."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Sonnets
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - 17th century
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance: - GENERAL--no other subplots apply - seduction (yum!)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Lover is - of a different social class

Main Character
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
City? Yes

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing
Unusual Style: - a lot of play on words
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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William Shakespeare Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Megan E. Davis  

SCHOLARS:
Andres Becerra  Judy Berman  Jessica Marler  Jeff Gedes  Jess  James Craver  Billy Pashaie  Gerri Mahn  Michael JR Jose  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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