I have been reading hundreds of sonnets lately (really, hundreds), and I’m also moving into more sophisticated grammatical analysis in the grammar course. Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 I started to focus not on the word meaning or imagery, but Shakespeare’s use of participles. Take a look below (for the Sonnet in standard form, go here). I did this quickly. Do I have it right?
Sonnet 29 with verbs and verbals displayed in color:
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 possess’d, 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 remember’d such wealth brings that then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Sonnet 29 with explanations of verbals (hold the mouse over phrases and words):
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) possess’d, 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 remember’d such wealth brings that then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Sonnet 29 reordered a bit closer to standard grammatical order:
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, possess’d like him with friends, desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, contented least with what I most enjoy; yet almost despising myself in these thoughts, 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 remember’d such wealth brings that then I scorn to change my state with kings.
