1. Enjambment: This is the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, creating a flow and momentum.
* Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:"
The sentence continues beyond the first line, drawing the reader forward and creating a sense of connection between the lines.
2. Inversion: Shakespeare often inverts the typical word order to emphasize certain words or phrases.
* Example: "And for a while the south-wind sighs, so soft"
- Typical order: "The south-wind sighs so softly for a while"
The inversion emphasizes the gentleness of the south wind.
3. Parallelism: This involves the use of similar grammatical structures to create balance and rhythm.
* Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:"
The phrase "Thou art" is repeated, creating a sense of symmetry and emphasizing the qualities of the beloved.
4. Anastrophe: This is a specific type of inversion where the object comes before the subject and verb.
* Example: "His glass he takes"
- Typical order: "He takes his glass"
This emphasizes the action of taking the glass and creates a more dramatic effect.
5. Interrogative Sentences: Shakespeare frequently uses questions to engage the reader and provoke thought.
* Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
This question sets up the entire sonnet and invites the reader to consider the beloved's beauty.
6. Rhetorical Questions: These are questions asked for effect, not to be answered.
* Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
This question is not intended to be answered but rather to highlight the beloved's enduring beauty.
7. Broken Syntax: Shakespeare sometimes breaks the usual grammatical rules for dramatic effect.
* Example: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head."
The broken syntax creates a sense of chaos and disarray, reflecting the speaker's feelings about his mistress.
Through these various syntax strategies, Shakespeare manages to create complex meaning, emotional depth, and an engaging reading experience in his sonnets. He uses syntax not just to convey information but also to shape the reader's perception and create a rich tapestry of language.