'Sonnet 40' by John Berryman
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Sonnets To Chris1966Marble nor monuments whereof then we spoke
We speak of more; spasmodic as the wasp
About my windowpane, our short songs rasp-
Not those alone before their singers choke-
Our sweetest; none hopes now with one smart stroke
Or whittling years to crack away the hasp
Across the tickling future; all our grasp
Cannot beyond the butt secure its smoke.A Renaissance fashion, not to be recalled.
We dinch 'eternal numbers' and go out.
We understand exactly what we are.
...Do we? Argent I craft you as the star
Of flower-shut evening: who stays on to doubt
I sang true? ganger with trobador and scald!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 40 by John Berryman: A Critical Analysis
Sonnet 40, written by John Berryman, is a masterpiece in its own right. This poem is the fortieth and last sonnet of a sequence of 77 sonnets titled "Sonnet Dream." Published in 1964, this poem is one of Berryman's notable works that has been widely discussed and interpreted over the years.
As a literary critic, I find this poem intriguing and engaging. It is a complex and multi-layered work that demands careful reading and analysis. In this essay, I will attempt to offer a comprehensive analysis of Sonnet 40, exploring its themes, symbols, language, and form.
Themes
One of the main themes of Sonnet 40 is the nature of love and its relationship with time. The speaker in the poem is reflecting on the past, the present, and the future of his relationship with his lover. He is aware of the fleeting nature of time and how it can change everything. The poem is a meditation on the fragility and transience of love.
Another theme of the poem is the struggle for self-understanding and self-awareness. The speaker is trying to make sense of his feelings, his desires, and his identity. He is looking for a deeper understanding of himself, his lover, and their relationship. The poem is a journey of self-discovery.
Finally, the poem explores the tension between the body and the mind, the physical and the intellectual. The speaker is torn between his physical desire for his lover and his intellectual curiosity about the world. He is struggling to find a balance between his bodily needs and his intellectual aspirations.
Symbols
One of the most striking symbols in the poem is the image of the clock. The speaker refers to the clock several times, emphasizing the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The clock is a symbol of the transience of life and the impermanence of all things.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is the image of the mirror. The speaker looks at himself in the mirror and tries to see himself as others see him. The mirror is a symbol of self-reflection and self-awareness. It is also a symbol of the duality of the self, the inner and outer selves that are often in conflict.
The final symbol in the poem is the image of the bed. The bed is a symbol of intimacy and eroticism. It is a place where the speaker and his lover come together, but it is also a place of vulnerability and exposure. The bed is a symbol of the complex and often contradictory nature of human relationships.
Language
The language of the poem is rich and complex. Berryman uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of depth and meaning. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a musical quality. The use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of tension and drama.
One of the most striking features of the language is the use of repetition. The speaker repeats certain phrases and words throughout the poem, creating a sense of urgency and intensity. For example, the phrase "more than" is repeated several times, emphasizing the speaker's desire for a deeper understanding of his relationship.
Another important feature of the language is the use of imagery. Berryman uses vivid and evocative images to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, the image of the "tongueless night" creates a sense of silence and emptiness, while the image of the "roaring sun" creates a sense of power and energy.
Form
The form of Sonnet 40 is a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This form gives the poem a sense of structure and symmetry. It also creates a sense of closure, as the final couplet brings the poem to a satisfying conclusion.
The use of iambic pentameter and the strict rhyme scheme create a sense of formality and tradition. This form is a nod to the history of sonnets and their place in literary tradition. However, Berryman also subverts this form by using enjambment and other literary devices to create a sense of tension and unease.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 40 is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of love, time, self-awareness, and the tension between the physical and the intellectual. The poem is full of rich and evocative language, vivid imagery, and powerful symbols. The form of the poem adds to its sense of structure and tradition, while also allowing for subversion and experimentation.
Overall, Sonnet 40 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to inspire and engage readers today. Its themes and symbols are timeless, and its language and form are a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to analyze and interpret this poem, and I look forward to sharing my insights with others who appreciate the beauty and power of great poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s Sonnet 40 is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a sonnet that is both complex and beautiful, and it is a testament to Berryman’s skill as a poet. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Sonnet 40, and we will examine how these elements work together to create a powerful and moving piece of poetry.
The first thing that strikes the reader about Sonnet 40 is its structure. It is a traditional sonnet, with fourteen lines and a strict rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into two quatrains and a sestet, with the first two quatrains setting up the theme and the sestet providing a resolution. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of a Shakespearean sonnet.
The theme of Sonnet 40 is love, but it is not a simple love poem. Instead, it is a poem about the complexities of love, and the ways in which love can be both beautiful and painful. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, telling her that he loves her more than anything else in the world. He says that his love for her is so strong that it makes him feel like he is “in a world of men who walk alone.”
However, the second quatrain takes a darker turn. The speaker begins to question his own love, wondering if it is real or if it is just a figment of his imagination. He says that his love for his lover is like a “dream,” and that he is afraid that he will wake up and find that it was all just an illusion. This is a common theme in love poetry, but Berryman’s treatment of it is particularly powerful.
The sestet of Sonnet 40 provides a resolution to the conflict set up in the first two quatrains. The speaker tells his lover that even if his love is just a dream, it is still real to him. He says that he would rather live in a dream world with her than live in the real world without her. This is a powerful statement, and it shows the depth of the speaker’s love for his lover.
One of the most striking things about Sonnet 40 is its language. Berryman uses a variety of poetic devices to create a rich and complex poem. For example, he uses metaphor to describe the speaker’s love for his lover. He says that his love is like a “dream,” which is a powerful metaphor that captures the ephemeral nature of love. He also uses imagery to describe the speaker’s feelings. For example, he says that the speaker feels like he is “in a world of men who walk alone,” which is a powerful image that captures the isolation and loneliness that can come with love.
Berryman also uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem. For example, he repeats the phrase “I love you” several times throughout the poem, which creates a sense of urgency and intensity. He also repeats the phrase “dream” several times, which reinforces the metaphor and creates a sense of continuity throughout the poem.
In conclusion, John Berryman’s Sonnet 40 is a powerful and moving piece of poetry that explores the complexities of love. Through its structure, themes, and language, it creates a rich and complex portrait of love that is both beautiful and painful. It is a testament to Berryman’s skill as a poet, and it is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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