Sonnet 76 (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: William Shakespeare
- First Published: 1609
- Type of Work: Sonnet
- Genres: Poetry, Sonnet
- Subjects: Tradition, Love or romance, Poetry or poets, Wit or humor, Imagination, Adventure, Inventions or inventors, Sun
The Poem
The first quatrain of the sonnet consists of two questions that address a supposed problem with William Shakespeare’s own verse—its utter conventionality, barrenness of thought, and monotony (it is “far from variation”). A more ambitious or imaginative lover, he says, would express himself with variety and surprise (“quick change”). The second question implies that, in keeping with the fashion (“the time”), the poet should employ better “methods” and new “compounds.” Besides being destitute of invention, it seems that he lacks a pleasing spirit...
[The entire page is 1522 words long]
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