Introduction
This Sonnet is held to be one of William Shakespeare’s earlier works, owing in part to its relatively simple form. However, keen-eyed observers have noted that the husband of Anne Hathaway seems to have buried some tender-hearted little clues in the closing lines.
THOSE lips that Love’s own hand did
make
Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate’
To me that languish’d for her sake;*
But when she saw my woeful state
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,*
And taught it thus anew to greet:
‘I hate’ she alter’d with an end,
That follow’d it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away;*
‘I hate’ from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying ‘not you.’*
‘Languished for her sake’: William is hurt that his wife Anne (to whom the Sonnet appears to be addressed) has used such harsh words as ‘I hate’ towards him, when he more than anyone else is anxious to please her.
Anne, quick eyed, notices the effect of her words, and silently reproves herself for her words (‘chiding her tongue’), which were unusually bitter for someone who always pronounced judgment (‘doom’) gently.
Anne adds a couple of words onto her criticism, and as a result the impact on William changes entirely, as night changes to day.
Note that ‘hate away’ is not so very far from ‘Hathaway’; likewise, ‘And saved my life’ sounds not unlike ‘Anne saved my life.’ Anne relieves William by making it clear that she does not hate him.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Chide. Hand. Heart.
2 Do. Mercy. Teach.
3 Come. Fly. Sake.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Straight. 2 Heavenly. 3 Merciful. 4 Sound. 5 Endless. 6 Useless. 7 Used. 8 Loveless. 9 Lifeless.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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