The document provides background information on William Shakespeare and discusses his sonnet 29 and play As You Like It. It summarizes that Sonnet 29 shows the poet feeling unlucky, shamed, and jealous as he curses his fate. As You Like It is summarized as a pastoral comedy following Rosalind who flees persecution and finds love in the Forest of Arden. Key characters and their traits are outlined.

1. Sonnet 29 and As You Like It
by WilliamShakespeare

2. William Shakespeare
Born: Baptised 26 April 1564
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Died: 23 April 1616 (aged 52)
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Chandos Portrait

3. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His
early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as
some of the best work produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until
about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth, considered some of
the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also
known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.
First Folio
first collected edition of
Shakespeare's plays without
which there would be no
William Shakespeare

4. Sonnet 29
Published in 1609, the Sonnets were the last of Shakespeare's non-dramatic works
to be printed. Scholars are not certain when each of the 154 sonnets was composed,
but evidence suggests that Shakespeare wrote sonnets throughout his career for a
private readership.
Sonnet 29 shows the poet at his most insecure and troubled. He feels unlucky,
shamed, and fiercely jealous of those around him. What causes the poet's anguish will
remain a mystery; as will the answer to whether the sonnets are autobiographical.
by : William Shakespeare

5. When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

6. SONNET 29
PARAPHRASE
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
When I’ve fallen out of favor with fortune and men,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
All alone I weep over my position as a social outcast,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And pray to heaven, but my cries go unheard,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
And I look at myself, cursing my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Wishing I were like one who had more hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Wishing I looked like him; wishing I were surrounded by
friends,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
Wishing I had this man's skill and that man's freedom.
With what I most enjoy contented least;
I am least contented with what I used to enjoy most.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
But, with these thoughts – almost despising myself,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
I, by chance, think of you and then my melancholy
Like to the lark at break of day arising
Like the lark at the break of day, rises
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
From the dark earth and (I) sing hymns to heaven;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
For thinking of your love brings such happiness
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
That then I would not change my position in life with kings.
`

7. Literary Criticism
 Mimetic - nature is copied, imitated, reflected
 Expressive - author’s inner being is expressed
- an examination of Shakespeare’s life around the time he wrote Sonnet 29 reveals
two traumatic events that may have shaped the theme of the sonnet. In 1592 the London theatres
closed due to a severe outbreak of plague. Although it is possible that Shakespeare toured the
outlying areas of London, it is almost certain that he left the theatre entirely during this time to work
on his sonnets and narrative poems. The closing of the playhouses made it hard for Shakespeare and
other actors of the day to earn a living. With plague and poverty looming it is expected that he would
feel "in disgrace with fortune"

8. Theme:

9. Comedy, in the contemporary meaning of the term, is any discourse or work generally
intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, television, film
and stand-up comedy.
A Shakespearean comedy is one that has a happy ending, usually involving marriages
between the unmarried characters, and a tone and style that is more light-hearted than
Shakespeare's other plays.

10. As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in
1599 or early 1600 and first published in the First Folio, 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain,
though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It follows
its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find
safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden.
By William Shakespeare

11. Act 1, Scene 1: Orchard of Oliver's house.
Act 1, Scene 2: Lawn before the Duke's palace.
Act 1, Scene 3: A room in the palace.
Act 2, Scene 1: The Forest of Arden.
Act 2, Scene 2: A room in the palace.
Act 2, Scene 3: Before OLIVER'S house.
Act 2, Scene 4: The Forest of Arden.
Act 2, Scene 5: The Forest.
Act 2, Scene 6: The forest.
Act 2, Scene 7: The forest.
Act 3, Scene 1: A room in the palace.
Act 3, Scene 2: The forest.
Act 3, Scene 3: The forest.
Act 3, Scene 4: The forest.
Act 3, Scene 5: Another part of the forest.

12. Act 4, Scene 1: The forest.
Act 4, Scene 2: The forest.
Act 4, Scene 3: The forest.
Act 5, Scene 1: The forest.
Act 5, Scene 2: The forest.
Act 5, Scene 3: The forest.
Act 5, Scene 4: The forest.

13. Rising Action

14. Sir Rowland de Bois has recently died,
and, according to the custom of
primogeniture, the vast majority of his
estate has passed into the possession of
his eldest son, Oliver.

15. Charles, a wrestler from the court
of Duke Frederick, arrives to warn
Oliver of a rumor that Orlando will
challenge Charles to a fight on the
following day. Rosalind witnessed the
victory of Orlando and fell in love with
him. Rosalind gives Orlando a chain to
wear and he falls in love with her.

16. Conflict

17. Orlando returns home from the
wrestling match, only to have his
faithful servant Adam warn him about
Oliver’s plot against Orlando’s life.
Orlando decides to leave for the safety
of Arden.
Without warning, Duke Frederick
has a change of heart regarding
Rosalind and banishes her from court.

18. Climax

19. To ensure the safety of their
journey, Rosalind assumes the dress of
a young man and takes the name
Ganymede, while Celia dresses as a
common shepherdess and calls herself
Aliena.

20. Denouement

21. Rosalind, as Ganymede, claims to be
an expert in exorcising such emotions
and promises to cure Orlando of
lovesickness if he agrees to pretend that
Ganymede is Rosalind and promises to
come woo her every day. Orlando agrees,
and the love lessons begin.

22. Oliver describes how Orlando
stumbled upon him in the forest and
saved him from being devoured by a
hungry lioness. Oliver and Celia, still
disguised as the shepherdess Aliena, fall
instantly in love and agree to marry.

23. Ending

24. The day of the wedding arrives, and
Rosalind gathers the various couples:
Phoebe and Silvius; Celia and Oliver;
Touchstone and Audrey, a goatherd he
intends to marry; and Orlando. The
group congregates before Duke Senior
and his men. Rosalind, still disguised as
Ganymede, reminds the lovers of their
various vows.

25. Settings:
• Dukedome
• Forest of Arden

26. Characterization:
Rosalind – risk-taker; witty; brave
Orlando – courageous; reckless
Celia – loyal friend
Oliver – rude; greedy; neglectful
Duke Fredrick – cruel; volatile temper
Duke Senior – contented; helpful

27. Subject Matter:
Love
Loyalty
Family
Simplicity

28. Characters
Rosalind - the daughter of Duke Senior.
- independent minded, strong-willed, good-hearted,
and clever
Celia - The daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind’s
dearest friend. Celia’ devotion to Rosalind is unmatched, as
evidenced by her decision to follow her cousin
into exile.
Orlando - the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and
younger brother of Oliver. Orlando is an attractive young man
who, under his brother’s neglectful care, has languished
without a gentleman’s education or training.

29. Touchstone - A clown in Duke Frederick’s court
who accompanies Rosalind and Celia in their
flight to Ardenne.
Oliver - The oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois
and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate. Oliver is a
loveless young man who begrudges his brother,
Orlando, a gentleman’s education.
Duke Senior - The father of Rosalind and the
rightful ruler of the dukedom
Duke Frederick - The brother of Duke Senior
and usurper of his throne. Duke Frederick’s cruel
nature and volatile temper are displayed when he
banishes his niece, Rosalind, from court without
reason.

30. Silvius - A young, suffering shepherd, who is desperately in love with the
disdainful Phoebe.
Phoebe - A young shepherdess, who disdains the affections of Silvius.
She falls in love with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind in disguise, but
Rosalind tricks Phoebe into marrying Silvius.
Charles - A professional wrestler in Duke Frederick’s court. Charles
demonstrates both his caring nature and his political savvy when he asks
Oliver to intercede in his upcoming fight with Orlando: he does not want
to injure the young man and thereby lose favor among the nobles who
support him. Charles’s concern for Orlando proves unwarranted when
Orlando beats him senseless.
Audrey - A simpleminded goatherd who agrees to marry Touchstone.
Sir Rowland de Bois - The father of Oliver and Orlando, friend of
Duke Senior, and enemy of Duke Frederick. Upon Sir Rowland’s death,
the vast majority of his estate was handed over to Oliver according to the
custom of primogeniture.

31. Theme:
The Delights of Love
City Life Versus Country Life
The Malleability of the Human Experience