Grammatical Structures as An Avenue for Meaning in Shakespeare's Sonnets – A Formalist Approach

Abstract

This article examines the relevance of grammatical structures in stemming meaning from Shakespeare’s Sonnets 3, 40 and 147 through a formalist lens. By interrogating the intrinsic elements of language, such as syntax, semantics, and literary devices, the paper reveals how these features contribute to the sonnets’ thematic richness and highlights the relevance of grammatical and linguistic structures. The analysis of grammatical composition, including clauses, sentence types and punctuation, exposes the poet’s purposes and emotions, as well as the characters’ behaviour. Sonnet 3 serves as a pivotal point, showing the poet’s appeal to the “fair young man” concerning the nature of beauty and procreation, while Sonnet 40 brings to light themes of betrayal and loss through complex sentence structures. On the other hand, Sonnet 147 mirrors hopelessness in response to earlier denunciation, as indicated by disordered expressions. Ultimately, this article aims to highlight the significance of structural analysis in comprehending Shakespeare’s poetic expression by examining similarities and differences among the selected sonnets. This underscores the wider implications of the interconnected themes of love, beauty, and existential reflection.