Day 5

Shakespeare's Sonnets Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    Are Sonnets 135 and 136 love poems? 

    The poems are deeply sexual in nature but might not be described as traditionally romantic. For example, the speaker has no illusions about the "virtuous" nature of the woman he is pursuing. Students should discuss whether they think the poems are insulting or playful, or both.

  2. 2

    What do you think is the speaker's relationship to the addressee in Sonnets 135 and 136?

    Certainly the speaker is attempting to seduce the addressee, but the way he speaks to her could be considered disrespectful. Students should talk about the social relationship they sense — for example,  is the woman lower or higher in social...

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