Shakespeare’s Sonnets, first published in 1609, offer a remarkable example of his poetic genius and the revolutionary use of language that also marks his legendary work as the author of such plays as Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. Joseph Luzzi, a professor of literature at Bard College, takes a close look at the sonnets’ poetic elements, themes, and techniques. Luzzi pays special attention to how Shakespeare’s use of the sonnet form also appeared in plays including his Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, and Much Ado About Nothing; he compares Shakespeare the “sonneteer” to other illustrious practitioners of the form, including John Milton and Francis Petrarch. In addition, he discusses how and why Shakespeare’s Sonnets have become one of the most consequential works in Western literature and how their beauty and magical literary effects continue to enchant readers today.
10–11 a.m. Becoming the Sonnets
Luzzi explores how and why Shakespeare wrote his 154 sonnets, their connection to his plays, and their path to publication in book form in the famous edition of 1609. He also examines the publishing industry in Shakespeare’s time in relation to his Sonnets. The connections between the sonnets of Shakespeare and the use of the sonnet form by other great authors of the Renaissance, including Petrarch, John Donne, and Milton are discussed.
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The “Fair Youth”: Sonnets 1–63
Luzzi considers major themes of the Sonnets as well as the figures they describe, especially the “fair youth” featured in the poems. Themes including procreation, the ephemeral nature of earthly beauty, and the nature of love are explored.
12:15–12:45 p.m. Break
12:45–1:45 p.m. Love, Continued: Sonnets 64–126
Luzzi considers the complex interaction between the sonnets’ discussions of love. He also examines Shakespeare’s linguistic choices and their resonances in the “fair youth” sequence comprising the first 127 sonnets.
2–3 p.m. The “Dark Lady”: Sonnets 127–52
The focus is on Shakespeare’s representation of the “dark lady” and the themes of sexuality, desire, and the snares of love associated with her. Luzzi explores how Shakespeare’s Sonnets resurfaced in his plays and discusses the sonnets as a whole and their extraordinary influence.
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