Shakespearean Sonnets In Contemporary English

The present book contains the texts of 154 sonnets by William Shakespeare, English poet, playwright, and actor, along with the paraphrases of each sonnet presented in simple modern-day English. Students and lovers of English language and literature, as well as learners of English as a foreign language who have basic level English proficiency will hopefully find this book appropriate to their taste and purpose. Shakespearean sonnets, a collection of 154 sonnets originally published in 1609, have been traditionally divided into the general themes of fair youth (sonnets 1-126, the first 17 of which are known as the procreation sonnets), dark lady (127-154), and the rival poet. The sonnets encompass a wide range of subjects such as love, passion, time, decay, death, anguish, beauty, art, rivalry, jealousy, truth, and even poetry itself. There have been many debates among Shakespeare scholars concerning the identity of the addressees and the historical background of Shakespeare’s sonnets. It is doubtful whether we can identify Shakespeare with the speaker of the sonnets; whether the sonnets are addressed to a patronage; or whether the passionate love expressed in the sonnets is genuine. What remains certain, however, is that – as The Bard himself had prophesied – Shakespeare’s sonnets continue to be alive and popular to this day, immortalizing his poetic legacy which resembles a magnificent, enduring monument. As the readers peer into each mysterious chamber in this labyrinthine monument, they will be amazed by Shakespeare’s skillful weaving of poetic images, symbols, metaphors and similes; on several occasions, they will be surprised by his mastery of legal and monetary terminology to address romantic issues; and, more often than not, they will be pleasantly shocked by his playful exaggerations, unlikely comparisons, and tongue-in-cheek treatments of Petrarchan sonnet conventions. It is worth to point out that this book is by no means an attempt to close the meaning of the brilliant sonnets of Shakespeare, but to suggest merely one way – among many - in which these sonnets can be paraphrased in modern-day English language. The joyful task of proliferating the interpretations of Shakespeare’s sonnets falls upon enthusiastic and attentive readers. We are looking forward to receiving your insightful ideas, revisions, and alternative paraphrases via your comments on the e-mail address below: [email protected] Read more