Dim Lady
Shakespeare can be boring and drab in comparison to the world today. Our lives and experiences seem extremely different in comparison to shakespeare 's, and the antiquated language doesn’t make connections to his work any easier. Books today such as “No Fear Shakespeare” make millions, translating his work to something a modern day student can experience in its glory without the boredom of classical language. ALthough entire works have been “translated” into modern language none of them have picture shakespeare 's humor and wit quite as elegantly as Harryette Mullen in her poem “Dim Lady” In Mullen 's work she uses colorful language, humor and structure is used to create a modern take on a classic form of poetry. The structure …show more content…
In order for a poem to be considered a shakespearean sonnet it must contain “, three quatrains and a couplet following) this rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, gg. The couplet plays a pivotal role, usually arriving in the form of a conclusion.” according to the Academy of American poets. The poem “Dim Lady” is structured very differently from shakespearean sonnet, being 10 lines and contains no quatrains, it is also missing the needed couplet and does not have a rhyme scheme. Although it lacks these needed structural elements of a sonnet it is very closely based on shakespeare 's sonnet 130 and is almost line for line a modern “translation” of shakespeare 's work. This brings a more modern take on the classical poem showing how the more contemporary free verse can still carry the same meaning now as in the past. This …show more content…
She rewrites shakespeare 's sonnet in modern terms and uses phrases that would be found in modern slang but still keeps the original intent of the sonnet. Shakespeare 's original work could be described as a sonnet making fun of itself. It uses flowery language to deromanticize the narrator 's lover, and comes off as harsh to and unforgiving, but in the end the “turn” reveals that although the object of the sonnet is unlike these heavily romanticized objects, that the narrator still adores the subject and views them as beautiful in himself, without the unnecessary romanizations of typical sonnet work. Mullen’s draws inspiration from shakespeare and writes a more contemporary version using structure, imager and humor to breathe new life into shakespeare 's work. This allows the reader to connect in the poem in ways similar to a person during shakespeare 's time would connect with his
Shakespeare can be boring and drab in comparison to the world today. Our lives and experiences seem extremely different in comparison to shakespeare 's, and the antiquated language doesn’t make connections to his work any easier. Books today such as “No Fear Shakespeare” make millions, translating his work to something a modern day student can experience in its glory without the boredom of classical language. ALthough entire works have been “translated” into modern language none of them have picture shakespeare 's humor and wit quite as elegantly as Harryette Mullen in her poem “Dim Lady” In Mullen 's work she uses colorful language, humor and structure is used to create a modern take on a classic form of poetry. The structure …show more content…
In order for a poem to be considered a shakespearean sonnet it must contain “, three quatrains and a couplet following) this rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, gg. The couplet plays a pivotal role, usually arriving in the form of a conclusion.” according to the Academy of American poets. The poem “Dim Lady” is structured very differently from shakespearean sonnet, being 10 lines and contains no quatrains, it is also missing the needed couplet and does not have a rhyme scheme. Although it lacks these needed structural elements of a sonnet it is very closely based on shakespeare 's sonnet 130 and is almost line for line a modern “translation” of shakespeare 's work. This brings a more modern take on the classical poem showing how the more contemporary free verse can still carry the same meaning now as in the past. This …show more content…
She rewrites shakespeare 's sonnet in modern terms and uses phrases that would be found in modern slang but still keeps the original intent of the sonnet. Shakespeare 's original work could be described as a sonnet making fun of itself. It uses flowery language to deromanticize the narrator 's lover, and comes off as harsh to and unforgiving, but in the end the “turn” reveals that although the object of the sonnet is unlike these heavily romanticized objects, that the narrator still adores the subject and views them as beautiful in himself, without the unnecessary romanizations of typical sonnet work. Mullen’s draws inspiration from shakespeare and writes a more contemporary version using structure, imager and humor to breathe new life into shakespeare 's work. This allows the reader to connect in the poem in ways similar to a person during shakespeare 's time would connect with his