Shakespeare and His "Dark Lady"

was she really that dark?

from JoeUser Forums
So good old College English IV class with Mrs. Conkel.

At the moment we are talking about Shakespear and currently reading Hamlet and a few of the "love" sonnets that he wrote.

Most of Shakespeare's sonnets are about the topice of love. But I'm guessing most of you already knew that. But did you know that he wasn't writing them to his wife? Yes, he was writing them about a mysterious "Dark Lady". Nobody know who she was, but they know of Shakespeare supposive rendezvous [sp?] with some lady. I suppose they call her the "Dark Lady" because they did not know who she was.

So an assignment we are to do, which is due tomorrow(yikes!) is to take two of Shakespeare's sonnets and re-write them making up lines but using the end word in each line. So.....

Sonnet 106 by William Shakespeare

When in the chronicle of wasted time
I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme,
In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights,
Then in the blazon of sweet beatuy's best
Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,
I see their antique pen would have express'd
Even such a beauty as you master now,
So all their praises are but prophecies
Of this our time, all you prefiguring:
And, for they look'd but with divining eyes,
They had not skill enought your worth to sing:
For we, which now behold these present days,
Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

Sonnet 106 my version [it's not very good]

Sometimes we all just need more time
Time to be with family, friends, wights,
And yes this sonnet sometimes will rhyme,
All the dragons are slain by knights,
They are the best of the best
Of ear, of nose, of toe, of hair, of brow,
I think this sonnet is not well express’d.
As I sit here and think of it now,
The times of the future are prophecies
Yet we are all sitting here just prefiguring:
Looking at all the newest technology with thy eyes,
And listening to the latest pop stars sing:
Sitting here waiting for the days,
It must be the Lord we should all praise.

so yea.....i'm not very good at this. lol.

That's why I do not like Shakespeare's sonnets...

....any opinions...I'm up for them!

[ashley^marie]
misc
7,988 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Are you supposed to be writing a sonnet or just making up a poem with the last words of each line?

If you're trying to write a shakespearian sonnet, to mimic 106, then you'll need to determine the metrical foot and follow it as much as possible. Sonnets are hard to write and typically have a specific purpose, which is also important to follow. Norton says that Sonnets are "best suited to intensit of feeling and concentration of expression" and "One subject it frequently discusses is confinement itself." Note: I've not analyzed Sonnet 106, so you'll have to figure out if either of these fit.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well our english teacher just told us to write about anything. So I guess you could say it is a poem with the last word in each line rather than a sonnet.

I know...mine doesn't make much sense...but it's only english class and we get away with "bullshitting" things like this.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Heh...interesting...that dragon line seems random and out of place, though. I'd make it flow a bit more...have some cohesion, like water. Although, Conkel will pretty much take any kind of writing...

~Zoo
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Did you know there's a strong argument to be made that your 'Dark Lady' was a young male actor called William Hughes? It's one of the more lasting conspiracy theories of the middle ages, although whether you think it was hushed up or a filthy lie is up to you.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Heh...interesting...that dragon line seems random and out of place, though. I'd make it flow a bit more...have some cohesion, like water.


i know shaun....but i couldnt think of anything....lol. you konw me! haha.

Did you know there's a strong argument to be made that your 'Dark Lady' was a young male actor called William Hughes? It's one of the more lasting conspiracy theories of the middle ages, although whether you think it was hushed up or a filthy lie is up to you.


Yes, so I have been told something like that. Actually today we discussed it at my lunch table.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Actually the Dragon line looks ok to me. At first it seemed odd, but re-reading it, it's fine to me. [I know you had the class already!]