Help on understanding a sonnet

I have to present on the 134 Shakespeare sonnet to class. I read it once and didn't catch anything it conveyed. I think some man inspired Shakespeare to write this. Please post your analysis on the sonnet so I can have an idea of what to say.

Here is the sonnet:
CXXXIV.

So, now I have confess'd that he is thine,
And I myself am mortgaged to thy will,
Myself I'll forfeit, so that other mine
Thou wilt restore, to be my comfort still:
But thou wilt not, nor he will not be free,
For thou art covetous and he is kind;
He learn'd but surety-like to write for me
Under that bond that him as fast doth bind.
The statute of thy beauty thou wilt take,
Thou usurer, that put'st forth all to use,
And sue a friend came debtor for my sake;
So him I lose through my unkind abuse.
Him have I lost; thou hast both him and me:
He pays the whole, and yet am I not free.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Juan Mauricio

I have to present on the 134 Shakespeare sonnet to class. I read it once and didn't catch anything it conveyed. I think some man inspired Shakespeare to write this. Please post your analysis on the sonnet so I can have an idea of what to say.

Here is the sonnet:
CXXXIV.

So, now I have confess'd that he is thine,
And I myself am mortgaged to thy will,
Myself I'll forfeit, so that other mine
Thou wilt restore, to be my comfort still:
But thou wilt not, nor he will not be free,
For thou art covetous and he is kind;
He learn'd but surety-like to write for me
Under that bond that him as fast doth bind.
The statute of thy beauty thou wilt take,
Thou usurer, that put'st forth all to use,
And sue a friend came debtor for my sake;
So him I lose through my unkind abuse.
Him have I lost; thou hast both him and me:
He pays the whole, and yet am I not free.

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Three tips:
1) Divide the sonnet up into its logical divisions of 3 quatrains (4 lines each) and the couplet (2 lines). These divisions generally reveal the progression of thought or idea. Generally the poet introduces the primary concern in Q1, developes it further in Q2 and Q3, then resolves the issue or summarizes his position in the couplet.

2) Check the language - Shakespeare used legal language in the sonnet - mortgage, debtor, sue, surety.

3) Figurative language is generally a key to meaning.

Good luck

I have a week to get ready but I like being prepaired. I got some irony and metaphoric meaning but Im still having problems. The assignment was to analyze the sonnet note any lit terms and have some understanding but Im not getting much of anything.


In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing,
In act thy bed-vow broke and new faith torn,
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.
But why of two oaths' breach do I accuse thee,
When I break twenty? I am perjured most;
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee
And all my honest faith in thee is lost,
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy,
And, to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see;
For I have sworn thee fair; more perjured I,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Enkmenessa

I have a week to get ready but I like being prepaired. I got some irony and metaphoric meaning but Im still having problems. The assignment was to analyze the sonnet note any lit terms and have some understanding but Im not getting much of anything.


In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing,
In act thy bed-vow broke and new faith torn,
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.
But why of two oaths' breach do I accuse thee,
When I break twenty? I am perjured most;
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee
And all my honest faith in thee is lost,
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy,
And, to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see;
For I have sworn thee fair; more perjured I,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie!

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Did you read my advice above?

Shakespeare's sonnets often use langugage "motifs" - here we see language dealing with "swearing" (i.e. oaths or promises): "forsworn," "oath," "perjured," "bed-vow broke," "faith torn," "oath's breach" etc. clearly, the emphasis is on promises broken - the entire poem turns round and round on the repetitious language of vows. If you follow my advice about the triple quatrain structure with the language motif, you should have a good start. Good luck.