Shakespeare's Poetry

Offering a rich and insightful review of William Shakespeare's forays into poetry, this documentary begins with a short biography of the writer, touching on what is known about Shakespeare's youth, marriage and family life, and move from Stratford to London to work as an actor and playwright (gaps in our knowledge of what Shakespeare did in the so-called “missing years” of the 1580s remain a mystery). Shakespeare's Poetry focuses on the Bard's writing of two epic poems, “Venus and Adonis” and the darker “The Rape of Lucrece,” both underwritten by a sponsor who might also have been the subject of many of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets. Various English literature professors weigh in on the debate over that person's identity, although the most intriguing argument is that Shakespeare was writing about a fictional person who was inspired by a friend. Attention then turns toward the “Dark Lady” who figures in a number of the later sonnets, and whether or not she was based on someone real or was Shakespeare's rejection of a clichéd construct of women in poetry. While some time is spent on Shakespeare's metaphysical poems, the sonnets consume the lion's share here, several of which receive thorough analysis. Also featuring an educator's guide, this will be a boon to students and Shakespeare lovers. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)