Shakespeare’s romantic couples are legendary: Romeo and Juliet; Antony and Cleopatra; Beatrice and Benedick – among so many others – continue to capture our hearts and imaginations. Yet some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful words can be found not in his plays, but his Sonnets. (Read and listen to one of his most famous here.)
This beauty was born of great difficulty. In 1592, all of the theatres in London were closed because of the plague; but it is believed that Shakespeare wrote the sonnets, a collection of 154 short poems, around that time. By 1594, when the theatres reopened, Shakespeare’s poems were popular and highly anticipated. But writing for the theatre remained Shakespeare’s most enduring love, and where he devoted his genius thereafter. Shakespeare and the theatre: A marriage of true minds, as it were.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, “Shakespeare For Our Children” bring you one of Shakespeare’s loveliest Sonnets. Highly romantic and yet accessible to children with its compelling imagery, the sonnet offers an excellent point of departure for Valentine’s class discussions. And for ideas about performance and how to capture the rhythm of the piece, be sure to listen to Janice Salzberg’s audio recording of the Sonnet as an accompaniment to early readings!