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On My First Sonne
What happens in the poem?
The poem bids “Farwell” to his seven year old son who has just died. It is written directly to his son, Jonson’s way of saying goodbye.
Structure
‘On my first Sonne’ consists of six rhyming couplets making up one verse in which Jonson, as a parent, pays tribute to his dead son. This makes the poem look like an inscription on a tombstone.
Language
In ‘On my first Sonne’, Jonson’s poetic language can be described as gentle and calm. The use of a first person persona gives us an insight into the personality of the speaker and their relationship. Jonson wants his son to “rest in soft piece,” and this expresses his tenderness towards his son and his acceptance that he has lost him.
Feelings and attitudes
Jonson’s feelings in ‘On my first Sonne’ are ones of sadness, grief and uncertainty. Jonson sees life as painful. However, the knowledge that his son is dead has allowed him to come to terms with what has happened; he says that perhaps death is the best state to be in as his son has “scap’d worlds, and fleshes rage.” He is also very proud of his son.
Jonson feels pain and decides “As what he loves may never like too much.” This suggests the poet is so devastated by his son’s death that he doesn’t want to suffer so much pain of loving someone again.
Themes & Compare
Love/Hate Relationships:
The Laboratory, My Last Duchess, Sonnet 130
Anne Hathaway, Before you were mine, Havisham
Mother any distance, Kid
Death
The Laboratory, My Last Duchess,
Havisham
Hitcher
Family/Parent/Child Relationships
Affliction of Margaret
Before you were mine
Mother any distance, Kid
Sonnet 130
What happens in the poem?
‘Sonnet 130’ is about true love and showing the reality of a relationship Shakespeare endures with his wife.
Structure
‘Sonnet 130’ is structured as a sonnet. The poem begins with an unambiguous statement “my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” one that surprises the readers. The
What happens in the poem?
The poem bids “Farwell” to his seven year old son who has just died. It is written directly to his son, Jonson’s way of saying goodbye.
Structure
‘On my first Sonne’ consists of six rhyming couplets making up one verse in which Jonson, as a parent, pays tribute to his dead son. This makes the poem look like an inscription on a tombstone.
Language
In ‘On my first Sonne’, Jonson’s poetic language can be described as gentle and calm. The use of a first person persona gives us an insight into the personality of the speaker and their relationship. Jonson wants his son to “rest in soft piece,” and this expresses his tenderness towards his son and his acceptance that he has lost him.
Feelings and attitudes
Jonson’s feelings in ‘On my first Sonne’ are ones of sadness, grief and uncertainty. Jonson sees life as painful. However, the knowledge that his son is dead has allowed him to come to terms with what has happened; he says that perhaps death is the best state to be in as his son has “scap’d worlds, and fleshes rage.” He is also very proud of his son.
Jonson feels pain and decides “As what he loves may never like too much.” This suggests the poet is so devastated by his son’s death that he doesn’t want to suffer so much pain of loving someone again.
Themes & Compare
Love/Hate Relationships:
The Laboratory, My Last Duchess, Sonnet 130
Anne Hathaway, Before you were mine, Havisham
Mother any distance, Kid
Death
The Laboratory, My Last Duchess,
Havisham
Hitcher
Family/Parent/Child Relationships
Affliction of Margaret
Before you were mine
Mother any distance, Kid
Sonnet 130
What happens in the poem?
‘Sonnet 130’ is about true love and showing the reality of a relationship Shakespeare endures with his wife.
Structure
‘Sonnet 130’ is structured as a sonnet. The poem begins with an unambiguous statement “my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” one that surprises the readers. The