The Shakespeare Sonnets Podcast: Recent Episodes
Reagan Peterson
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Sonnet 18 is one of the most analyzed poems ever. However, through the prism of the Metasonnets, it takes on new meaning. How is this possible? Well, if "thou" represents the masculine Fair Youth and "thee" represents the feminine Dark Lady, then this is a conversation about creating a poem that will ensure the sonnet format lives forever.
In this episode, I will discuss the three main characters in the work and then use Sonnet 18 as an example.
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This episode is designed to help you enjoy the most basic aspects of the 11x14 framework.
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Am I a language expert? Maybe...maybe not, but my personal and private life is completely built around languages. That gives me a sufficient amount of credibility, right?
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Is this about Shakespeare or about how we view ourselves?
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Shakespeare Reddit owes me nothing, but that doesn't mean I wish it would take me more seriously.
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When we say "The Sonnets," what are we referring to? Well, for many, it's just a slice because approximately 2/3 of readers have read less than 20% of the work.
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In this episode, I will explain how I, of all people, stumbled across this amazing idea.
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In this episode, I will explain how I, of all people, stumbled across this amazing idea.
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Why am I doing this? Well, I'll tell you.
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In this episode, I'll explore a question that Shakespeare seemingly couldn't answer: how much beautiful would "The Sonnets" be once the metasonnets were uncovered and the truth revealed? Then, how this revitalize the work?
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Sonnet 53 is the most famous poem so far in Section 4, and it's often viewed as a meditation on beauty. While this is a valid interpretation, in this episode, I will dramatically expand the scope of this sonnet. Rather than just the simple concept of beauty, Shakespeare ponders the complex question of what does it mean to create art with hidden layers, knowing that he'll be dead before it's ever discovered, if it's ever discovered at all.
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I thought my audio equipment was good enough to make this podcast. Some of the episodes were good, but too many weren't. So, I've invested in a real podcast mic and I hope this is problem is fixed.
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The first four rhyme words of this poem are a major Easter egg.
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Sonnet 51 is the second half of a pair. These two poems create one of the most unique meta moments in all of Shakespeare. In these two sonnets, Section 4's turn, the Bard is metaphorically, literally, and allegorically telling the reader that he's abandoning the 4442 format. More importantly, he's telling us why (even if this is just the narrator being emotional), and it's that the Metasonnet formula is slowing him down as a poet.
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Sonnet 50 is either boring or meta-brillance, depending your outlook. My theory is that Shakespeare personifies the meta-sonnets as a horse and then explains why he's Section 4 does not follow the 4442 format. It's because the meta-sonnet structure is too hard and it's slowing him down.
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What does this mean: "Against that time, (if ever that time come.)" Is it a coded way of saying, "in reference to the time when the meta-sonnets are uncovered, if that every happens?" Well, in this episode, I explore this poem from that angle.
I love Sonnet 49. Seemingly, Shakespeare is pondering if his big secret will ever be discovered, and, if so, what impact that will have on the work.
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In this poem, the narrator is pretty angry a someone who he thinks stole something from him. Well, is that other poets who copied his poetic style or the person who uncovered his secret?
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I've decided to change the name of the podcast.
- The Meta-Sonnets Podcast is a much better name
- I wanted to get "secret" out of the title
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Sonnet 47 might derivative, but it's actually a really fun poem when taken into context. Within the framework of the Meta-Sonnet structure, this poem tells us:
- 4442 isn't happening in Section 4. Something is out of place.
- The word "picture" is used three times, suggesting that readers should look at "The Sonnets" as a singular work.
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Even if you don't think the Secret Five Act Structure is real, this poem is an engaging metaphor about what makes poetry great. Is it the words themselves or the format/structure employed by the poet?
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During Season 2, I will rebrand the podcast with a new name. Until then, enjoy the earlier episodes as you see fit.
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The main idea of this poem is that the poet feels sad because Section 4 is breaking off from the 4442 format. It used to be a highly skippable sonnet, but now it's worth examining because we can see it in context.
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To whom is this soliloquy directed? The poems? The Secret Structure? The Audience who knows about the Secret? Maybe all three. In this episode, we'll ponder: who is Shakespeare talking to and what does that mean?
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Sonnet 43 is Shakespeare's most under-appreciated poem. It reveals:
- That the Secret Structure exists.
- That it was meant to be a secret.
- That readers will enjoy The Sonnets a whole lot more if they understand the Secret Five Act Structure.
- If this was an early sonnet (which multiple scholars have suggested), then this indicates that the Secret Structure was always Shakespeare's intention.
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In this episode, I will explain how the first 42 sonnets function as a three part one act play.
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Historically, Sonnets 43-56 have mostly been misunderstood and skipped. However, there are genius if looked at as a single unit. In this episode, I reveal what you can find if you know what to look for.
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This season I will cover my favorite part of The Sonnets: Act 2 or Sonnets 43-70.
Episode 5 - Tinfoil Cap Conspiracy Theories
Hello Shakespeareans and welcome to the Sonnets Podcast. This is Episode 5 - Tinfoil Cap Conspiracy Theories.
Years back, I was in Dallas, Texas visiting some family. I decided to play tourist and go to Dealy Plaza where President Kennedy was assassinated. The line to the museum observatory was too long, but I still got to examine the crime scene. In case you’ve never seen it, there’s two enormous yellow exes on the road where JFK took bullets and the Grassy Knoll is, well, right there.
We may never know Lee Harvey Oswald’s true motive or whether or not he was a lone gunman, but it’s hard not to think the whole thing was a conspiracy. If you don’t believe me, I recommend watching Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” Now, obviously, some of it is pure fiction, at least by my judgment, but it still feels like there’s something there. I’ve read dozens of Kennedy Assassination theories online. Even if they aren’t the truth, they’re still good entertainment.
Now, why do I start this episode of the podcast with one of the most famous conspiracy theories in history? Well, for one, I like conspiracy theories. I’m the type that’s always digging for something deeper. My ability to question established facts and look at institutionalized ideas with open eyes has been a huge asset many times in my life. But, I’m not gullible, at least I hope not. I don’t think of myself as the type of sucker who’s willing to accept any conspiracy theory. Seriously, no. That’s not me. There are plenty of conspiracies that I think are rubbish, and I discard them immediately.
Now, maybe you know where this is going. Shakespeare’s authorship is the source of countless conspiracies. And, let me lead off by saying I don’t believe any of them. Neither do most Shakespearean scholars. Having said that, there’s a fringe group that’s nominated 80 different candidates. For a variety of reasons, they believe Shakespeare wasn’t learned enough to be a great playwright and that someone else needed to be anonymous. Simply put, there’s nothing much to support this. In total, their overriding argument is that Shakespeare, the son of a glover, couldn’t have been a prolific writer.
Years back, Hollywood pooped out a movie called “Anonymous” based on one of these conspiracy theories. It was a stupid idea for a movie, and I don’t know what they were thinking. Shakespeare movies usually do poorly in the box office anyway. And an anti-Shakespeare movie? Ha! I never watched that flop, and, most likely, neither did you. Good riddance.
For anyone who wants to look, there’s plenty of evidence to support that Shakespeare was indeed Shakespeare. First off, everyone in Shakespeare’s time thought he was the real deal. This included other writers. If Shakespeare was just a front man, I don’t see how it could have been kept a secret.
The main reason is: the actors. When an actor has a question on how to deliver a line, they often ask the writer. If Shakespeare was just the money man, it would immediately be apparent to just about any actor. “Hey Will, that line, Now is the Winter of my Discontent...What does that mean?” If Shakespeare responded with, “Uh? Uh? Uhhh???,” he’d immediately out himself as a fraud. So yeah. Actors would be the first to know.
The authorship conspiracists need to explain how and why they’d keep this secret? I’m sure plenty of Renaissance actors changed companies. These guys definitely ran in the same circles. Are they expecting me to believe that no one ever
The middle third of this episode is a long quote. If you want to skip it, I get back on track at 21:15.
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