Written Analysis Of

Introduction to Literature I

SS 2004 Department of English GRAZ

VAss. Mag. Dr Lцschnigg Maria.

Written analysis of

Shakespeare, Sonnet XII

Florian LASSNIG

9913287, Stdkz: 192-482/456/344

florian.lassnig@stud.uni-graz.at

handed in: June, 21st 2004

Contents

1.) Introduction 3

2.) Body 4

2.1) subject matter 4

2.1.a) communicative situation 4

2.1.b) general topic 5

2.1.c) detailed

textual analysis 5

2.2) basic form 6

2.2.a) structure 6

2.2.b) measure and rhythm 6

2.2.c) rhyme and tone 6

2.2.d) semantic deviation 6

2.2.e) syntactic level 6

3.) Conclusion 6

4.) Bibliography 6

Sonett XII

ZÐ'hl' ich die Glocke, die die Stunde kÑŒndet,

Seh ich den Tag vergehn in dÑŒstrer Nacht,

Das Veilchen, das nach kurzer BlÑŒte schwindet,

Und silberweiЯ der Locken dunkle Pracht;

Seh ich entlaubt die stolzen BÐ'ume ragen,

Die Schatten liehn der Herde vor der Glut,

Des Sommers GrÑŒn in Garben fortgetragen,

Das auf dem Sarg mit weiЯem Barte ruht;

Dann muЯ ich wohl um deine Schцnheit trauern,

DaЯ sie dem Fluch der Zeiten nicht entgeht,

Denn Schцnstes kann sich selbst nicht ьberdauern,

Es welkt dahin, wie anderes entstellt;

Nichts kann es vor der Zeiten Sense wahren

Als Aussaat, die dem Tode trotzt und Jahren. When I do count the clock that tells the time,

And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;

When I behold the violet past prime,

And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white;

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves

Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,

And summer's green all girded up in sheaves

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,

Then of thy beauty do I question make,

That thou among the wastes of time must go,

Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake

And die as fast as they see others grow;

And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence

Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

(Source: Die Sonetten des William Shakespeare », http://www.william-shakespeare.de/sonet/12.htm, [06.06.04])

Here you can listen to a spoken version of this poem!

1.) Introduction

This paper mainly deals with the analysis of Shakespear’s sonnet XII, its interpretation and significance. I will try to give the reader a brief understanding of the most striking characteristics of the sonnet. Furthermore, I am going to concentrate not only on linguistic features but I will also exemplify the interaction between form and content in various parts of Shakespear’s piece of art.

Shakespear’s sonnets are among the most well known and most brilliant pieces of literature. Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote 154 sonnets, which were published 1609 in “SHAKESPEARE’S Sonnets Never before Imprinted”. The first 126 sonnets address a young man and the relationship to the speaker. Furthermore, the sonnets 1-17 are called “procreation sonnets”. There have been made several attempts in order find out the real identity of the “young man” in Shakespear’s sonnets but any historical equivalents have still not been proved. (proposed: Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke) (HЬHN, 1995)

Another important theme within Shakespear’s sonnets is “his wisdom of Time's wrath, and more specifically, the grim truth that time will have the same effects on the young man as it has upon the poet. And, as we see in the concluding couplet of Sonnet 73, the poet has this time succeeded. The young man now 'senses' the importance of his own youth, which he will be forced to 'leave ere long' (14).“ ...” Granted, a man of thirty-six was not deemed as young by Renaissance standards as by our own, but it seems unlikely that he would be awaiting his own death simply because of his age.”

(http://shakespeare.about.com/library/weekly/aa092701a.htm, [15.05.04.])

Nevertheless, the several historically missing facts about the life of Shakespeare and his work support the interesting discourse of analysis and interpretation of his literary heritage. “Sonnet XII” is one of the most famous sonnets and therefore well known all over the world. The topics and themes of most of Shakespear’s work intended to be new, confronting and ironically questioning the rules und values of his time. The traditional

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