THE INTERRELATION BETWEEN THE FORM OF POEM AND ITS MEANING
The world of poetry is proud of different outstanding names from the past, being constantly enriched with new masterminds. Nevertheless, there are such notables, whose light brightly shines all over the world, through centuries. In particular, such eternal fame is conquered by William Shakespeare, whose graceful style and deep understanding of the world made him a guiding star for all generations.
In order to convince ourselves in Shakespeare’s great talent, let us dive into the beauty of his sonnet 130 from the world-known Sonnets. What makes Shakespeare’s penmanship exclusively inimitable is his great ability to preserve the golden mean between the classic and uniqueness. This very feature is especially noticeable during the analysis of his artistic methods.
Moreover, it is necessary to point out that there even exists a special genre – so-called Shakespearean sonnet, which means that this English poet contributed greatly to the world heritage of poetry, as his form of expression of poetic compositions is acknowledged as the distinct form of poetic work. Simultaneously, it proves that Shakespeare, as it has been already mentioned, chose the classical form, ornamenting it with own style and fantasy.
In addition, the form of sonnet is also extremely important for the general understanding of the content, which author aimed to share with his reader. No doubt, the author is able to chant his Mistress with the longest poems ever existed, the fountainhead of his love would not be dried out even with thousands of pages, celebrating tender feelings. Nevertheless, the author dedicates the elegant and refined tone of sonnet for presenting it to his muse.
Furthermore, it is the way of author’s communication with the reader. It means that Shakespeare aimed us to encounter with his love in such an exquisite form, making it clear that his feelings are as clear and simultaneously chic as the genre, tone and rhythm of this very sonnet.
Frankly speaking, aforementioned details are common for the majority of Shakespeare’s love lyrics. What is interesting, analyzed Sonnet 130 delicately hides the other kind of charm, which form the first glance even could not be noticed under the mask of humor.
Do not worry, admirer does not make fun of his ladylove. Instead, he expresses an evident irony to the poetic language of that time. Interestingly, the key point of sonnet develops gradually, and even the reader could be trapped in the catchy meshes of Shakespeare’s plan.
For instance, author claims: “I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks”, which makes us believe he is not impressed with the beauty of the lady. (Shakespeare, 2013, p. 72). The other lofty comparisons are made also not in favor of the mistress, which keeps the reader in the growing doubt, tension and displeasure. Eventually, the last two lines reveal the true author’s feelings “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare, As any she belied with false compare” (Shakespeare, 2013, p. 72).
Actually, it was the author’s initial plan – to make us believe in his strange comparisons, under which his mistress allegedly was not in favorable light. It is one of the greatest approaches in literature in general, and in Shakespeare’s heritage in particular. He has shaped and mounded common language, traditional presentation of arguments in such a tangled way that every reader at first begins to be sorry about the absence of mentioned unearthly and celestial traits of Shakespeare’s Lady. Surprisingly, author reveals the truth – his inamorata is beautiful and precious because of being unique and genuine regardless of high-sounding and pompous epithets, which are more suitable for fictional goddess than for real belle. Simultaneously, he avoids all the cliché, which made the poetry too predictable and artificial.
In other words, considered Shakespeare’s sonnet is the great example of how the form of poem affects the way we encounter its meaning. As we are assured now that conscious gradual application of various elements of imagery, tone, rhythm, artistic means leads the reader through the route of poem’s sense, where all necessary emphasizes are installed by the mastermind in advance.
Works Cited
1. Shakespeare, W. (2013). The Sonnets. Pennsylvania: The Electronic Classics Series.
