william shakespeare sonnet 29 essay

Sonnet 29 Summary & Analysis by William Shakespeare

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"Sonnet 29" is a poem written by the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. It was most likely written in the 1590s, though it was not published until 1609. Like many of Shakespeare's sonnets , "Sonnet 29" is a love poem. It is also traditionally believed to have been written for a young man. Unlike some of Shakespeare's other love poems, however, which are concerned with physical beauty and erotic desire, "Sonnet 29" is about the power of love to positively affect one's mindset, as the poem argues that love offers compensation for the injuries and setbacks one endures in life.

• Read the full text of “Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”

The Full Text of “Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”

1 When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

2 I all alone beweep my outcast state,

3 And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

4 And look upon myself and curse my fate,

5 Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

6 Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

7 Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

8 With what I most enjoy contented least;

9 Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

10 Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

11 Like to the lark at break of day arising

12 From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

13        For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

14        That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

“Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” Summary

“sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” themes.

Self-Pity, Isolation, and Despair

• See where this theme is active in the poem.

Love and Wealth

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”.

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

Lines 11-12

Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

Lines 13-14

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings        That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

“Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” Symbols

• See where this symbol appears in the poem.

“Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

Alliteration.

• See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

Personification

“sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”

Rhyme scheme, “sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” speaker, “sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” setting, literary and historical context of “sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”, more “sonnet 29: when, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” resources, external resources.

The Elizabethan Sonnet Sequence — An article from the British Literature Wiki covering the broad dynamics of the Elizabethan sonnet sequence, with special attention to Shakespeare's sequence.

Sonnet 29 Read by Sir John Gielgud — Shakespearean actor Sir John Gielgud reads "Sonnet 29."

When the Bard Had the Blues — Alicia Ostriker analyzes "Sonnet 29" and writes about how it has affected her approach to her own writing—and the struggles that come with writing.    

Lovers' Laments — Former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky writes about the sonnet craze of the 1590s.

The Social Structure in Elizabethan England — Liza Picard describes the class system of Elizabethan England for the British Library.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Sonnet 129: Th' expense of spirit in a waste of shame

Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the time

Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun

Sonnet 138: When my love swears that she is made of truth

Sonnet 141: In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes

Sonnet 147: My love is as a fever, longing still

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws

Sonnet 20: A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted

Sonnet 27: "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed"

Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen

Sonnet 45: The other two, slight air and purging fire

Sonnet 55: Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore

Sonnet 65 ("Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea")

Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am dead

Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold

Sonnet 94: "They that have power to hurt"

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate; For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Summary of Sonnet 29

• Popularity of “ Sonnet 29”: Sonnet 29 is one of the best sonnets written by William Shakespeare. It is famous for its themes of love and hopelessness. It was first published in 1609. The poem speaks about an unfortunate man, frustrated with the present state of his life. It also illustrates the power and impact of true love.
• “Sonnet 29”, As a Representative of Love: This poem is about a speaker , initially downcast about fate, but becomes excited when he recalls his beloved . The poem begins with the description of the speaker’s discontent and his lamentation over the miserable plight of life. He curses his poor fate for his catastrophic condition. He feels abandoned and useless. He feels that even God is not answering his calls. Also, he is envious from the successful and talented people around him. He wishes to be rich, satisfied, and fortunate like them but meets only failures and disappointments. After cursing his present sad state, he suddenly talks about a special person and his mood changes in a dramatic way. This thought of love provides him immense pleasure and removes his negative feelings. What, however, stays in the minds of the readers is the magical effect of love that eradicates his sorrow and makes him feel special.
• Major Themes in “Sonnet 29”: Anxiety, love, and jealousy are the major themes of this sonnet. The poet discusses his miserable plight and the impact of love. The poem also explains how love brings optimism and hope to people who feel lonely and oppressed. In short, sonnet 29 is also about self- motivation .

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Sonnet 29”

literary devices are tools used by writers to convey their emotions, ideas, and themes to make texts more appealing to the reader. Shakespeare has also used some literary devices to bring depth in this poem. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem has been discussed below.

• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “Wishing me like to one more rich in hope” and the sound of /e/ in “Haply I think on thee, and then my state.”
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “I all alone beweep my outcast state” and “That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /s/ “Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising”.
• Personification : Personification is to attribute human characteristics to non-human or lifeless objects . For example, “From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s gate.” Here, Shakespeare personifies earth as if it is a human being that can sing.
• Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from literal meanings. For example, “lark” stands for hope and good fortune.
• Alliteration : Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /th/ in “Haply I think on th ee, and th en my state.”
• Enjambment : It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break ; instead, it continues to the next line. For example,

“For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Sonnet 29”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• Sonnet : A sonnet is a fourteen lined poem usually written in iambic pentameter . This Shakespearean sonnet consists of one octave and sestet .
• Couplet : There are two constructive lines of verse in a couplet , usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme . This sonnet ends with a couplet, which usually reveals the central idea of the poem or a concluding thought.
• Rhyme Scheme : The rhyme scheme followed by the entire sonnet is ABAB CDCD EBEB FF.
• Iambic Pentameter : It is a type of meter consisting of five iambs . The poem comprises of Iambic Pentameter . For example, “When in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes.”

Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below can be used in a speech or lecture to glorify the positive attributes of true love.

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Background of the Poem

Historical context.

William Shakespeare is one of the most well-known names in English literature. He was the most famous playwright of his time. He also used to work as an actor in theatre at that time. Later on in his life, he went on to buy shares of a famous theatre in London. Along with his occupation with theatre, he also wrote many English poems. Among these poems, there are 154 sonnets which were published together in a collection in 1609.

In the 1590s, there was a severe plague in London city which resulted in the closure of all the theatres in the city. During this time, he wrote his poetic pieces. Sonnet twenty-nine is also one the sonnets written at this time. Due to the closure of theatres at that time, Shakespeare found it difficult to earn his livelihood. Therefore, it can be said that these conditions led him to reflect on his miserable conditions in this poem.

Another event of disgrace also happened in these years. One of the University Wits playwrights, Robert Greene, made fun of Shakespeare’s writing in his diary. He wrote that Shakespeare is trying to imitate the University Wits and is an insignificant writer. He furthered by writing that Shakespeare is a jack of all trades. This meant that he was a master of none. This reason can also clarify why Shakespeare said that he is in “disgrace with fortune.” He must have been hurt by such comments made about him at the start of his career.

As far as the person addressed in this sonnet is concerned, there is no obvious clue in the sonnet. However, the collection of sonnets is usually considered to be addressed to two different persons. The first 126 sonnets make the first portion of the collection. These sonnets are addressed to a male beloved. The last twenty-eight sonnets of the collection make the second portion. This portion is addressed to a mysterious lady. Based on this information, it can be said that this sonnet is addressed to the lovely guy with whom Shakespeare was in love.

Literary Background

The poem is written in sonnet form, which is a tradition borrowed from Italy. The main features of this form are that it is composed in strictly fourteen lines, and the meter used is iambic pentameter. The Italian poet and philosopher, Petrarch, invented this form of writing poetry for the first time in the fourteenth century. In England, this tradition reached late in the sixteenth century.

In England, Thomas Wyatt was the first poet to practice writing poetry in the form of a sonnet. He followed all the conventions of Italian sonnets. Many other poets like Philip Sidney and Henry Howard also used this form in England. They made a few changes in it by introducing quatrains in it. Sonnet twenty-nine is confirmation of this tradition. It is composed of fourteen and is divided into three quatrains and a couplet.

However, the theme of this sonnet does not conform to the traditional themes of sonnets. Traditionally, sonnets addressed the impossible pursuit of the love of a god-like female beloved. However, this sonnet discusses the miseries of the speaker and the pleasant effect of the beloved’s thoughts on his mood.

Sonnet 29 Summary

First quatrain.

The poem opens with the speaker describing his miserable condition. He says that when he finds himself in a state of failure and misfortune, he cries over his condition. He cannot bear the unjust treatment by his fortune. To add further to the injury, he is not only treated badly by fortune but also by the people of his society. He considers himself in union with no one. Nothing is favoring his side. So, he cries over his conditions. He cannot tolerate the fact that he has been announced an outcast by society.

Along with his weeping, he also tries to find some solace from prayers. He prays to the gods, but his prayers provide no gain. They fall on deaf ears of gods and are not answered. When his prayers face such a response, he says that he becomes more miserable. He considers his situation in the world and concludes that there is no comfort for him here. He curses his luck for all the worries he has in his life.

Second Quatrain

In the second quatrain, the speaker reflects on the thoughts he has when he is in miserable conditions. He says that he envies the fates of other people. He wishes to have the life of the person who has better hopes than him. He has lost his hope and cannot find to see any reason to live. Therefore, he envies the people who have high hopes in their lives. He also wants to have the fortunes of the rich people. Furthermore, he feels the vacuum of good friends in his life. He wants to have friends like the rest of the people.

His wishes do not end here. He says that he thinks of people with skills and wants to have their skills. These skills have rendered those people respectable in society, and the speaker wants to achieve the same respect. He also talks about the envying the scope of some people in society. He wishes to have that scope so that he could use it in his favor.

In the last line of the quatrain, the speaker confesses that he is not contented with the things he used to enjoy in the past. He is now fed away with all those things. He considers his skills and friends as lesser than those of others. This makes his condition even worse.

Third Quatrain

 The speaker speaks about his shift of mood in the third quatrain. He says that when he is trapped in such a dejected state, he reaches the point that he starts loathing his own self. However, his mind turns towards his beloved by chance. This moment turns out to be vital in changing the mental condition of the speaker. He says that his mind starts singing hymns as a lark sings at the daybreak.

In the couplet, the speaker tells his beloved about the reason for his change of mind. He tells his beloved that the thought of his love reminded him of the great treasure he has. This treasure is so worthy that he is now not ready to swap position even with a king. The wealth of a whole country cannot match the worth of his treasure.  

Themes in Sonnet 29

Power of true love.

One of the most major themes of this poem is the power of true love. The speaker creates a context of miseries and sadness to highlight the positive effect of love on one’s mind. He says that he is  dejected and fed up with worldly affairs. He thinks himself as an outcast from society and curses his fate for all the bad things that have happened to him. In such conditions, love appears as a hero and saves his day. He is rescued from the tides of miseries and self-loathing.

 This shows that love is a very powerful feeling when it is pure. It can do miracles to people and guide them through their lives. In the poem, the speaker asks the gods for help, but they do not help him. This shows that love is mightier than gods. When even the gods failed to help the poor speaker, love did in a moment.

For the most part of the poem, the speaker appears melancholic. He has miseries all around him in his life. In the very first line, he is in disgrace with fortune and people. This shows that he is badly treated by natural and social forces. Fortune is not helping him by making him face worrisome situations. Similarly, his society is not helping him to get rid of these situations. He is left all alone in the world. This state makes him say that he is an outcast from society.

The miseries of the speaker multiply when he sees that other people are granted things that he lacks. He wants to have the skills that other people have. Moreover, he wants to be as hopeful and as resourceful as some other people of his society are. This feeling of emptiness makes him more miserable. He blames his luck for all these things. In this sense, the theme of misery hovers over the poem.

The speaker of the poem talks a great deal about his envious feelings in the poem. He says that he curses his own fate and envies the fate of others. There are many aspects of others’ lives which he wants to own. He thinks that he should have the type of friends that other people have in their circles. He also envies people’s skills. He desires to have those skills as well.

Moreover, the fortunes and hopes of people are also the objects of his envy. These feelings are so strong that they overwhelm him, and he is not able to enjoy the enjoyable aspects of his life. His own life becomes dull and boring for him. In this way, envy becomes a major theme of the poem.

Even though it is not discussed overtly in the poem, the theme of religion plays a vital role in the overall content of the poem. The speaker says that he troubles the heaven with his cries but does not mention any answer in return. However, he mentions that heaven is deaf, and his cries are bootless, which suggests that he is skeptical of religion.

Furthermore, love serves as an alternative to religion by helping the speaker in his bad times. The speaker asks heaven for help, but his plea is ignored. On the other hand, he does not ask anything from love but still receives help from there. This difference in response highlights the superiority of love over religion.

In this way, religion is highlighted in a negative way in the poem.

Sonnet 29 Literary Analysis

The speaker starts the poem by referring to his miserable social status and says he has lost his position in men’s eyes. Here, the speaker employs the literary device synecdoche by referring to whole humans by using the word “eyes.” This device brings an artistic effect to the poem. He continues to describe his condition and exaggerates his poor social connections by using the term “outcast.” This use of hyperbole conveys his dissatisfaction over his current condition.

In the third line of the poem, the speaker explains his struggle to better his condition. He says that he troubled the gods with his cries. However, he uses the epithet “deaf” with the word “heaven” and “bootless” with the word “cries.” This personification of heaven creates the image of an indifferent God who does not want to hear the cries of the humans. He is troubled by them. In the next line, he blames this all over his luck.

In the second quatrain, the speaker describes his envy. He wants to have the hope, the skills, and the friend of other people. He says that his current condition does not let him enjoy what he used to enjoy in the past. He used words like “rich,” “featured,” and “possessed” to show that he lacks what other people have.

After the octave, the gloomy tone of the poem changes. The speaker starts using cheerful words and talks about his shift of mood. He says that with the arrival of the beloved’s thought in his mind, his mental condition changes drastically. He soon becomes happy and starts comparing this change to daybreak. He uses a simile to say that his mind starts singing just like a lark sings at dawn.

In the couplet, the speaker exaggerates his love and says that he will not even accept a kingdom in return for his beloved’s thought. The two lines are connected together in structure and thought, which shows the connection between the speaker and his beloved.

Sonnet 29 is written in the usual form of Shakespearean sonnets. It is composed of fourteen lines the meter used to write in iambic pentameter. The first twelve lines make three quatrains, and the last two lines are in the form of a couplet. 

There are two distinct portions of the poem based on the thought they convey. The first eight lines of the sonnet form the first portion and are called the octave. This portion explains the depressed mental state of the speaker. The last six lines of the sonnet form the second portion and are called the sestet. This portion explains the happier image after the speaker starts thinking about his beloved.

Rhyme Scheme

The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ababcdcdefefgg. However, the difference in this sonnet is that the “b” and “f” rhymes are identical.

The meter used in this sonnet is iambic pentameter.

The diction of the poem is made to suit the tone of the poem. In the first section of the poem i.e., the octave, the tone of the poem is gloomy, and the diction supports the tone. Words like “outcast,” “bootless cries,” and “curse,” etc. reflect this tone of the poem.

In the last part of the poem i.e., the sestet, the tone of the poem alters and becomes hopeful and cheerful. The diction of this part also follows this shift in tone. The words like “arising,” “sings,” and “sweet love” reflect the cheerful tone of the poem.

The tone of the sonnet is different in the two different parts of the poem. In the octave, the tone of the poem is sad and gloomy. In the sestet, there is a shift in the tone and becomes cheerful and hopeful.

Speaker of the Poem

The speaker of the sonnet is a lover who is living in a miserable condition. He/she reflects on his/her condition and describes his miseries. He is envious of other people who have better skills and resources than him.

Literary Devices used in Sonnet 29

Personification.

•     Deaf Heaven: In the third line of the poem, heaven is personified by linking the quality of deafness with it. This device brings the effect of creating an image of an indifferent god. In this way, the speaker attains the empathy of the readers.
•     Sullen Earth: In the twelfth line of the poem, the earth is personified by linking the quality of being morose with it. This device is employed to create a vivid image of the morose mental state of the speaker.

  In the thirteenth line of the poem, the word wealth stands for the happiness and love of the speaker. This device makes the happiness of the poem relevant to the context of the poem.

In the eleventh line of the poem, the speaker compares the shift in his mental state with the morning songs of a lark by using the phrase “Like to the lark.” This simile creates the image of a lark singing in the morning, which enhances the effect of the poem.  

• Outcast State

In the second line of the poem, the speaker describes his lack of social connection by using the phrase “my outcast state.” This phrase is clearly exaggerated as the speaker is not an outcast but just not contented with the friends he has. This device is employed in the poem so that the miseries of the speaker are highlighted.

• Change my state with kings

In the last line of the poem, the speaker claims that he is so proud of his beloved thought that he will not be ready to let it go in return for a whole kingdom. This is clearly an exaggeration as no king will want to give his state in return for just a thought. This device intensifies the speaker’s claim that he considers the thought of his beloved better than anything.

Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sound in a sentence in a poem. In the following line of the poem, sound /i/ is repeated:

“Wishing me like to one more rich in hope.”

Similarly, the sound /e/ is repeated in the following line:

“Haply I think on thee, and then my state”

Such repetition of sounds makes the poem more rhythmic and conveys the urgency of the speaker.

Consonance is the repetition of the same consonant sound in a line in a poem. In the poem, the sound /s/ is repeated in the following line:

“Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising”

Alliteration

The repetition of the same starting sounds in a line is called alliteration. In this poem, alliteration is found in the following line:

Haply I think on thee, and then my state

The sound /th/ is repeated in this line, which reflects the abrupt change in the tone of the speaker. He is overjoyed by the thought of his beloved and utters rhythmic words as a result.

Enjambment is a literary device in which the thought in one line is continued into another line. In this poem, both the lines of the couplet continue the same thought. This device implies the mental communion of the speaker and the beloved joining the two lines in the poem.

Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part refers to a whole or a whole refers to its part. In the first line of the poem, the speaker uses the phrase “men’s eyes” to refer to his belittling in society. Here the speaker uses the word “eyes” to refer to the whole of humans.

The word “state” is used three times in the sonnet in three different meanings. In the first line, it means the financial and social conditions of the speaker. In the tenth line, this word refers to the mental state of the speaker. In the last line, it is used to mean the kingdom of a king. In this, there is a play on this word.

More From William Shakespeare

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• The Merchant of Venice
• Twelfth Night
• The Taming of the Shrew
• As You Like It
• Much Ado About Nothing
• The Comedy of Errors

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Analysis: “Sonnet 29”

Sonnet 29 is about the power of love , platonic or romantic, to lift a person out of the depths of depression. The speaker spends the first half of the poem describing a hopeless state with great detail, the better to contrast this seemingly unconquerable misery with the liberating effect of love. The tone and diction of the first half builds incrementally, and with each additional struggle the speaker presents adding to his feelings of despair, withdrawal, and anguish. However, before the speaker completely collapses, the poet uses a volta, or a dramatic rhetorical shift, to completely change the mood and import of the poem. Rather than succumbing to his depression, the speaker thinks of his love, which is enough to reverse even the most painful thoughts almost instantly, returning the speaker to a state of gratitude, joy, and peace. The poem’s grammar echoes this structure; it comprises one sentence with two clauses: a conditional clause that describes the speaker’s troubles and a main clause that describes the saving power of love.

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William Shakespeare Sonnet 29: Analysis & Theme

Shakespeare's sonnets are a treasure trove of human emotions, and Sonnet 29 is no exception. This masterpiece delves into the depths of despair, longing, and the transformative power of self-worth. 

In this blog post, we'll explore the intricacies of Sonnet 29, analysing its themes, structure, and the timeless resonance it holds.

Shakespeare Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes

• When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
• I all alone beweep my outcast state,
• And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
• And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
• Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
• Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
• Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
• With what I most enjoy contented least;
• Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
• Haply I think on thee—and then my state,
• Like to the lark at break of day arising
• From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
• For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
• That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Shakespeare Sonnet 29 Analysis:

The sonnet opens with a portrayal of the speaker's emotional turmoil. He laments his unfortunate circumstances and feels isolated from both society and divine intervention. The use of "bootless cries" emphasizes his perceived helplessness. The themes of envy and comparison are evident as he wishes for qualities possessed by others.

Amid this despair, a turning point occurs as the speaker remembers someone dear to him. This "sweet love" acts as a balm for his wounded soul. The imagery of the lark signifies a metaphorical ascent from darkness to light. The shift from "sullen earth" to "heaven's gate" parallels the speaker's emotional transformation.

The volta, or thematic turn, arrives in the final quatrain. The speaker's perspective changes, and he no longer desires to be anyone else. The power of love's memory is revealed as he proclaims that he'd rather be himself with the memory of this love than a king without it. This redemption and acceptance of self-worth highlight the poem's underlying message.

Themes and Significance:

"Sonnet 29" touches on several themes that resonate across time. The fragility of self-esteem, the weight of societal judgment, and the rejuvenating power of love are central themes. The poem encapsulates the universal human experience of grappling with inner demons while finding solace in relationships and cherished memories.

Shakespearean Sonnet Structure:

Shakespearean sonnets, also known as English sonnets, consist of three quatrains (four-line sections) and a final rhymed couplet (two-line section). The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This structured form allows Shakespeare to present and develop his ideas in a controlled yet poetic manner.

Conclusion:

Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 is a testament to the timeless relevance of human emotions. It paints a vivid picture of despair and the longing for acceptance, only to transform into a celebration of self-worth and the redemptive power of love. 

Through its masterful use of language and form, this sonnet continues to captivate hearts and minds, resonating with individuals across cultures and generations.

FAQs about William Shakespeare Sonnet 29:

What sonnet 29 is about, sonnet 29 explores the emotional journey of a speaker who experiences feelings of isolation and unworthiness. the speaker initially laments his misfortune and envies others' attributes. yet, the memory of a cherished love changes his mindset.  through vivid imagery, the sonnet illustrates the speaker's transformation from despair to acceptance, showcasing the significance of love and self-perception., what is the summary of sonnet 29.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 depicts a speaker in a state of despair and self-doubt. Feeling disconnected from fortune and society, the speaker wishes he had the qualities of others. However, thoughts of a beloved person transform his perspective. 

Comparing his emotions to a lark's ascent, the speaker finds solace in the memory of love. Ultimately, the sonnet emphasises the redemptive power of love and self-worth.

What is the theme of sonnet 29?

The central theme of Sonnet 29 revolves around the contrasts between despair and redemption, self-doubt and self-worth, and isolation and connection. It delves into the human experience of longing for societal acceptance and personal value. 

The sonnet highlights the transformative influence of love and memory, underscoring the idea that genuine self-esteem and contentment come from within, not from external validation.

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The Themes Unveiled in The Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

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Words: 812 |

Published: Jul 2, 2018

Words: 812 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• Shakespeare, W. (1609). Sonnet 29. In W. Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets (pp. 34-35). Retrieved from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1041/1041-h/1041-h.htm
• Abrams, M. H., & Harpham, G. G. (2014). A glossary of literary terms. Cengage Learning.
• Belsey, C. (2017). Shakespeare: Sonnets and poems. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Boyce, C. (2008). Shakespeare A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Plays, His Poems, His Life and Times, and More. Roundhouse Publishing Group.
• Cassell, S. (2005). Shakespeare's Sonnets: A Guide to the Text and Its Afterlife. Wiley.
• Greenblatt, S., Cohen, W., Howard, J. E., & Maus, K. E. (Eds.). (2018). The Norton Shakespeare: Essential Plays and the Sonnets (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
• Hunter, G. K. (2009). Shakespeare and the Mystery of God's Judgments. Wiley.
• Kastan, D. S. (Ed.). (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature. Oxford University Press.
• Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. (n.d.). Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes. Retrieved from https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/sonnet-29-when-in-disgrace-with-fortune-and-mens-eyes/
• Vendler, H. (2010). The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets. Harvard University Press.

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Sonnet 29 (Shakespeare)

One of the 154 sonnets by Shakespeare from the collection Shakespeare's Sonnets (1609).

In the collected Sonnets

• " Sonnet 29 ," in Shake-speares Sonnets, Never before Imprinted (1609)
• " Sonnet 29 ," in Shakespeare's Sonnets , (ed.) by William J. Rolfe (1883)
• " Sonnet 29 ," in Shakespeare's Sonnets , (ed.) by Edward Bliss Reed , The Yale Shakespeare (1923)

Other editions

• " Poem XII: A Consolation ," in the Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics , (ed.) by Francis Turner Palgrave (1861).
• " Sonnet ," in Poems and Extracts , (ed.) by William Wordsworth (1905).
• " Sonnets (ii) " in the Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900 (ed.) by Arthur Quiller-Couch (1931).
• " Sonnets (ii) " in the Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918 (ed.) by Arthur Quiller-Couch (1940).

The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee - and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love rememb'red such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare Summary, Notes and Line by Line Explanation in English

Table of Contents

Introduction 

“Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” is a sonnet composed by William Shakespeare that goes through the mental state of the speaker who thinks he lacks talent and opportunities. But later towards the end of the poem, he realises the wealth he possesses and the poem takes a cheerful turn. 

About the poet 

William Shakespeare is a world famous writer, poet and dramatist. He wrote 154 sonnets as a poet that explore themes of love, infidelity, jealousy, and death. 

This sonnet is a fourteen-line Shakespearean sonnet with three quatrains and one couplet. The poem is composed in iambic pentameter. The tone of the poem drastically changes towards the end from dejection to optimism. 

Summary and Analysis 

Whenever the poet faces bad luck and society looks down upon him, he cries alone to himself because he has no one else. He cries out to his God who never answers to his prayers and he looks at himself and curses his fate with regrets. 

The speaker begins the poem by stating how unfortunate he has been. He mentions that he cries alone over his hapless fate when his luck does not partner him and the men look down upon him in disappointment. These men can be his business partners or general society. 

He further says whenever he is this miserable he cries towards his Gods, for helping him to get over this misery. But Heaven is “deaf”. His cries or prayer never reach his Gods. The speaker mentions that he “troubles deaf heaven”, this reveals that he often faces this ill-fated destiny and is helpless. Therefore he turns towards the superior entity for help, and he has done that several times, which he believes is troublesome. 

Yet no one is there to help him, not even God. He then looks upon his state and curses his fate. He is filled with regrets and powerlessness. So, he weeps over his worries and never stands up for himself. 

He wishes that he was more fortunate and possessed features like someone who is beautiful. And friends that will be influential. He desires he could do what an artist does or any successful person with skills and talents does. He wishes he had those skills as well. He further does not enjoy the things he loved before. 

The speaker in these lines illustrates an idealised version of a man. This man is handsome, sociable, talented, and successful. The speaker wants to be more like this man. He wishes he was “rich in hope”, although this richness is to be implemented into one’s life. The speaker is simply not trying to have a positive outlook towards his life. Therefore, he is going down this tunnel of hopelessness. 

These lines reveal the envious nature of the speaker. He believes that he lacks something that does not make him an ideal man. He wishes he had friends like this idealised version of a man has. This also reveals the timid and unsociable nature of the speaker. 

In the next lines, the speaker desires to have the same talents and opportunities as this glamorised man. The speaker does not believe in his skill sets. Therefore, it can be said that he himself is holding him back and blaming it over his fate. As everyone has some skill or talent, it’s upon that person to believe in it and harness his skills for future opportunities. 

The speaker then says that all the things that he enjoyed the most are not that pleasing anymore. This reveals the speaker’s mental state, he must be going through something that made him depressed. Although the speaker never reveals what led to this condition, it is sure that he feels he lacks talent and luck. 

Yet whenever he has these thoughts and despises himself over it, he thinks about his love and then his state is better. He feels like a bird on day break, flying above the ground and singing hymns at the heaven’ s gate. Because thinking about the sweet love of his beloved brings him so much wealth he will not give it up even for the kings. 

These last lines change the whole mood and tone of the poem. The speaker was despising himself earlier over his fate. But in these next lines, he proclaims that all these worries go away when the speaker thinks about his love. 

This love is the “fair youth” that often appeared in Shakespeare’s sonnets. Whenever the speaker thinks about his beloved, he is no more worried and depressed. He feels like a free bird that flies in the sky when the day breaks, high above the ground. He mentions the bird because he feels like singing hymns directly in front of the heaven’s gates. He is filled with love and joy. 

And he cherishes his feelings and his love so much that he feels rich again. He no more wants to be like that idealised man that he compared himself to in the previous stanzas. He is so content by just the thought of his love, that he would not trade it for anything else in the entire world. Even if rich kings approach him, offering all of their wealth for this, he would instantaneously refuse as it means so much to him. 

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It’s time to brush up your Shakespeare

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Little information about William Shakespeare’s personal life is available, but from municipal records we can deduce that he was born in the English village of Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warwickshire, on April 23, 1564, and that after retiring to his home town around 1612, he died there on April 23, 1616. His life encompassed the greatest achievement ever in language and literature.

As Cole Porter wrote in the musical “Kiss Me Kate”:

The goils today in society

Go for classical poetry,

So to win their hearts,

One must quote with ease

Aeschylus and Euripides.

But the poet of them all

Who will start ‘em simply ravin’

Is the poet people call

The Bard of Stratford-on-Avon.

It has been said that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Today, thanks to the internet, we know that is not true.

Here are 20 fun riddles about William Shakespeare:

1. What do you call a nervous javelin? A Shake Spear.

2. How do we know that Shakespeare was a pun master? He created many plays on

3. How do we know that Shakespeare threw tantrums? He was always making a scene

4. How do we know that Shakespeare’s wife was also quite verbal? Because Anne Hath A

Way with words.

5. What happened when Shakespeare started writing poetry? He went from Bard to verse.

6. What did Shakespeare say when someone asked him if he was writing a sonnet in

pentameter? “Iamb.”

7. The Bard owned a sporting goods store. What was its ad for the January sale? “Now is

the winter of our discount tents.”

8. Shakespeare and The Beatles walk into a bar. What does the bartender say? “Sorry,

you’re barred and those four guys are banned.”

9. Why did Shakespeare enjoy English class in high school? He didn’t have to study

Shakespeare.

10. Why was Shakespeare a good teammate to have? He would always play write.

11. What happened to the young Shakespearean couple who went out for dinner and

found that the guy had forgotten his wallet? It ended up that Romee owed what Julie et.

12. What is Romeo and Juliet’s least favorite fruit? Cantaloupe.

13. Why would the witches in Macbeth make terrible baseball umpires? Because they

think that “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”

14. What did Lady Macbeth say to her dog? “Out, damned Spot! Out, I say!”

15. Why did Shakespeare write Hamlet with a quill pen rather than a pencil? Because

pencils confused him: 2B or not 2B.

16. In Hamlet, what are the gravediggers engaging in when they unearth the remains of

Yorick? Skull duggery.

17. What did Julius Caesar say when Brutus asked him how many doughnuts he had

eaten? “Et two, Brutus.”

18. What did Julius Caesar die of? Stabbing pains.

19. What did Cleopatra sing when she clasped the asp to her breast? “Fangs for the

Mammaries.”

20. Each spring, what do San Diegans shout? “Once more unto the beach, dear friends!”

A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same forwards and backwards, such as A MAN! PLAN! A CANAL! PANAMA! A calendrome is a date that reads the same forwards and backwards. Get ready for a succession of calendromes starting April 20 through April 29 .

I’ll be performing “Living Will: The Legacy of William Shakespeare” on Saturday, April 20, 2:30 to 3:30 pm, at the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library, 215 N. Washington St., and on Monday, April 22, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, at the Remington I Movie Room, 16925 Hierba Drive, Rancho Bernardo. Free admission for both events. I’d love to meet you there.

Send your questions and comments about language to [email protected] website: www.verbivore.com

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