'Sonnet 86: Was it the proud full sail of his great verse' by William Shakespeare


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The Sonnets1609Was it the proud full sail of his great verse,
Bound for the prize of all-too-precious you,
That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse,
Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew?
Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write
Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead?
No, neither he, nor his compeers by night
Giving him aid, my verse astonishèd.
He nor that affable familiar ghost
Which nightly gulls him with intelligence,
As victors of my silence cannot boast;
I was not sick of any fear from thence.But when your countenance filled up his line,Then lacked I matter, that enfeebled mine.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 86: Was it the proud full sail of his great verse

William Shakespeare's sonnet 86 is a masterpiece of the English language, which has been studied and analyzed by literary critics for centuries. This sonnet is often considered as one of the most complex and enigmatic poems of Shakespeare, because it is difficult to decipher the meaning of the poem at first glance. However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals itself to be an allegory, which celebrates the power of words and the art of poetry.

The sonnet begins with the narrator reflecting on the power of poetry, as he states, "Was it the proud full sail of his great verse" (line 1). The use of the metaphor of a "proud full sail" is significant, as it suggests that the poet's words are like a majestic ship, which sails through the tumultuous waters of life. The poet's words are not only powerful, but also beautiful, as they are compared to the majesty of a ship sailing on the sea.

The second line of the poem continues the metaphor, as the narrator asks, "Bound for the prize of all too precious you?" (line 2). Here, the "prize" refers to the poet's beloved or muse, whom he wishes to impress with his words. The narrator suggests that the poet's words are like a ship sailing towards the "prize" of his beloved. The use of the phrase "all too precious you" suggests that the beloved is valuable and precious to the poet, and he desires to impress her with his words.

The third line of the poem introduces a new metaphor, as the narrator states, "Or was it (as his body's frailty was)" (line 3). Here, the poet's body is compared to a ship that is frail and weak. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet is mortal, and his body is vulnerable to the ravages of time and illness.

The fourth line of the poem continues the metaphor, as the narrator states, "That which his soul conceived, his hand expressed" (line 4). Here, the poet's words are compared to the product of his soul, which he has expressed through his hand. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are not just a product of his intellect or his imagination, but rather a manifestation of his soul, which he has translated into words.

The fifth line of the poem introduces a new metaphor, as the narrator states, "Venturing to pluck the (sic) up beauty's rose" (line 5). Here, the poet's words are compared to the act of plucking a rose. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are like a gentle hand that plucks the beauty of his beloved, which he wishes to capture in his verses.

The sixth line of the poem continues the metaphor, as the narrator states, "Of his own kind that (sic) embellished with his pride" (line 6). Here, the poet's words are compared to a rose that is embellished with his pride. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are not just beautiful, but also prideful, as they are a manifestation of his own talent and skill.

The seventh line of the poem introduces a new metaphor, as the narrator states, "So he that crowned monarchs with his sight" (line 7). Here, the poet is compared to a monarch, who is able to crown other monarchs with his sight. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are not just beautiful, but also powerful, as they have the ability to crown other monarchs, or elevate other individuals with their power.

The eighth line of the poem continues the metaphor, as the narrator states, "Yet lacked the influence of your (sic) beholding" (line 8). Here, the poet's words are compared to the influence of the narrator's beloved, who is able to inspire the poet with her beauty and grace. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are not just a product of his own talent and skill, but also a reflection of the influence of his beloved.

The ninth line of the poem introduces a new metaphor, as the narrator states, "It were a (sic) work worthy of your (sic) eyes" (line 9). Here, the poet's words are compared to a work of art, which is worthy of the attention of the narrator's beloved. The use of this metaphor suggests that the poet's words are not just a product of his own talent and skill, but also a work of art that is worthy of the admiration of others.

The tenth line of the poem continues the metaphor, as the narrator asks, "If he (sic) were (sic) anything were (sic) worthy proved" (line 10). Here, the narrator questions the worthiness of the poet's words, as he asks whether they are truly worthy of the admiration of others. The use of this rhetorical question suggests that the narrator is not sure whether the poet's words are truly worthy of the admiration of others, and he is questioning the value of the poet's work.

In conclusion, William Shakespeare's sonnet 86 is a complex and enigmatic poem, which celebrates the power of words and the art of poetry. Through the use of intricate metaphors and powerful imagery, Shakespeare is able to convey the beauty and majesty of the poet's words, as well as their vulnerability and mortality. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and the impact that it can have on the human soul. Despite the difficulty of the poem, it remains a masterpiece of the English language, and a testament to Shakespeare's skill and talent as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 86 by William Shakespeare is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that is filled with rich imagery and deep meaning. The poem is a reflection on the power of language and the impact that it can have on the world. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet 86 and explore its themes, structure, and language.

The poem begins with the line, "Was it the proud full sail of his great verse." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a question that is posed to the reader, asking them to consider the power of language. The use of the word "proud" suggests that the language being referred to is something that is grand and majestic. The word "full" suggests that it is something that is complete and whole. The use of the word "sail" suggests that language is something that can carry us forward, like a ship on the sea.

The next line reads, "Bound for the prize of all too precious you." This line is a continuation of the metaphor that was introduced in the first line. The language being referred to is something that is bound for a prize. The use of the word "precious" suggests that this prize is something that is highly valued. The use of the word "you" suggests that the prize being referred to is the reader themselves. The language being used is something that is meant to win over the reader.

The third line reads, "That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse." This line is a bit more difficult to understand. The word "inhearse" is not a commonly used word in modern English. It means to store or preserve something. The use of the word "ripe" suggests that the thoughts being referred to are something that is ready to be harvested. The use of the word "brain" suggests that these thoughts are something that is deeply personal to the speaker.

The fourth line reads, "Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew." This line is a continuation of the metaphor that was introduced in the previous line. The thoughts that were stored in the speaker's brain are now being referred to as something that has grown. The use of the word "tomb" suggests that these thoughts were something that was dead or buried. The use of the word "womb" suggests that these thoughts were something that was reborn or brought back to life.

The fifth line reads, "Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write." This line is a bit more complex than the previous lines. The use of the word "spirit" suggests that the language being referred to is something that is otherworldly or supernatural. The use of the word "spirits" suggests that this language is something that is taught or learned from other supernatural beings. The use of the word "write" suggests that this language is something that is written down.

The sixth line reads, "Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead?" This line is a continuation of the previous line. The language being referred to is something that is above a mortal pitch. The use of the word "pitch" suggests that this language is something that is musical or melodic. The use of the phrase "struck me dead" suggests that this language is something that is so powerful that it can kill.

The seventh line reads, "No, neither he, nor his compeers by night." This line is a bit more difficult to understand. The use of the word "compeers" suggests that the speaker is referring to other poets or writers. The use of the phrase "by night" suggests that these poets or writers are something that is hidden or secret. The line suggests that the language being referred to is not something that is created by mortal beings.

The eighth line reads, "Giving him aid, my verse astonished." This line is a bit more straightforward than the previous lines. The speaker is saying that the language being referred to is something that has helped them to create their own poetry. The use of the word "astonished" suggests that this language is something that is powerful and impressive.

The ninth line reads, "He nor that affable familiar ghost." This line is a continuation of the previous line. The speaker is saying that the language being referred to is not something that is created by a specific person or ghost. The use of the word "affable" suggests that this ghost is something that is friendly or approachable. The line suggests that the language being referred to is something that is beyond the control of mortal beings.

The tenth line reads, "Which nightly gulls him with intelligence." This line is a bit more difficult to understand. The use of the word "gulls" suggests that the ghost being referred to is something that is tricked or deceived. The use of the word "intelligence" suggests that this ghost is something that is knowledgeable or wise. The line suggests that the language being referred to is something that is beyond the understanding of mortal beings.

The eleventh line reads, "As victors of my silence cannot boast." This line is a bit more straightforward than the previous lines. The speaker is saying that the language being referred to is something that has helped them to break their silence. The use of the word "victors" suggests that this language is something that has helped the speaker to overcome something.

The final line reads, "I was not sick of any fear from thence." This line is a bit more difficult to understand. The use of the word "sick" suggests that the speaker is referring to something that is negative or harmful. The use of the phrase "from thence" suggests that the speaker is referring to something that is far away or distant. The line suggests that the language being referred to is something that has not caused the speaker any harm.

In conclusion, Sonnet 86 by William Shakespeare is a powerful piece of poetry that explores the themes of language, power, and mortality. The poem is filled with rich imagery and deep meaning. The use of metaphors and symbolism helps to create a sense of mystery and wonder. The language used in the poem is something that is beyond the understanding of mortal beings. It is a language that is powerful and impressive, something that can move mountains and change the world.

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