Shakespeare Sonnets Worksheet

Name____________________

Read sonnets 29, 73, 116, and 130 by William Shakespeare and
answer the questions. Answer in complete sentences.
Sonnet 29
1. What two moods are contrasted?

2. What kinds of men does the speaker say he envies?

3. What does the lark symbolize?

4. Where is the tune in this poem? What does he say?

5. How does the speakers state of mind change from the beginning of
this sonnet to the end?

6. Why does the speakers outlook change?

7. In this sonnet, Shakespeare connects the two disparate moods with

an image of an address to Heaven. How are the two images
different?

Sonnet 73
8. What is the speakers mood?

9. Identify the images of death.

10. The images in sonnet 73 are considered particularly effective.

What are the images and how do they relate to the mood and
theme of the poem?

Sonnet 116
11.

What are impediments?

12.

Provide 2 examples of alliteration from the poem.

13.

What is the narrator referring to with the wandring bark?

14.

How does the narrator feel about love?

Sonnet 130
15. In most love poems, the speaker praises the beauty or spirit of
the beloved. How does Sonnet 130 compare to most love poems?

16.

What is the speakers attitude toward his mistress?

17. In this poem, Shakespeare seems to be making fun of the

comparisons that other poets use. Name some examples of what

Shakespeare considers to be a false compare (Remember, other

sonnets are love poems, they glorify the woman).