The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
Reagan Peterson
Shakespeare's Sonnets is a famous and beloved piece of writing, but, in the view of this podcaster, the work is misunderstood and only about half as good as it can be, if a reader knows what to look for. This podcast will explore The Sonnets on three levels:
Level 1: The 154 poems group perfectly in an 11x14 Meta-Sonnet structure. This means that there are 11 groups of 14 sonnets and each sonnet functions as a line within a larger sonnet. Furthermore, these 11 sections group into 5 acts (with the first 3 sections forming Act 1 and each subsequent Act is 2 sections long). Regardless how readers interpret The Sonnets, they will notice that thematically similar sonnets almost always group neatly into Meta-Sonnet quatrains and couplets. They will also see that narrative arcs start and stop neatly within their sections and acts. Reading the poems in this way enables readers to make connections that would otherwise be invisible.
Level 2: There are three main characters in The Sonnets: the Poet, the Fair Youth, and the Dark Lady. Many readers see these characters as real people who lived 400 years ago and nothing more. That's fine, but there's plenty of textual evidence that the Fair Youth can also be a personification for poetry/the work itself (not a new idea) and the Dark Lady can be seen as a personification of the Sonnet Format/Renaissance Poetic Conventions/Meta-Sonnets. As such, in this view, The Sonnets is not the private love poems of bi-sexual playwright. Rather, it is a critical examination of the relationship between poet, poetry, and form. Other interpretations are perfectly valid, but this is new way to enjoy the work. Importantly, readers need to see the Meta-Sonnets to full appreciate this interpretation of poems.
Level 3: Assuming Level 1 and Level 2 are true, astute readers will have some serious questions. Maybe they won't and they can just connect the Meta-Sonnets to their existing ideas, but, for others, they will want some answers and rightfully demand an explanation. For example: how could this have happened? Why would Shakespeare have done this? If it's too perfect to be random, why did Shakespeare create Meta-Sonnets and not tell anyone? Honestly, I have no secret knowledge about Shakespeare, but I do have the text. Sonnet 43 (and Act 2 in general/the Second Season of this Podcast) is the best place to go for answers, but there are clues in other sonnets too. In short, the text leads me to believe:
1. Shakespeare invented Meta-Sonnets and wrote about them in the work.
2. He intentionally kept them a secret.
3. He knew that seeing them would double the reading pleasure.
4. If Sonnet 43 was an early sonnet (many scholars believe yes), then that suggests that Shakespeare always intended for The Sonnets to have secret Meta-Sonnets.
These Three Levels are very different. Most readers can easily accept the First Level and many readers are comfortable with the Second Level. The Third Level, however, is scary. Many might even suggest off-putting or ridiculous, and, without a doubt, it is controversial. Fair enough. If readers want to ignore the Third Level, that is fine, but it does not discredit the first two. Having said that, I will explore all three in the podcast.
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Top 10 The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry Episodes
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Sonnet 46 - Eye (Words) vs Heart (Format)
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
10/11/24 • 25 min
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?
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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Sonnet 47 - A Picture with 154 Pieces
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
10/18/24 • 25 min
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:
1. 4442 isn't happening in Section 4. Something is out of place.
2. The word "picture" is used three times, suggesting that readers should look at "The Sonnets" as a singular work.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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5 - Tinfoil Cap Conspiracy Theories
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
03/07/23 • 23 min
Why would Shakespeare have wanted to keep his Structure a secret? In this episode, we'll explore four possible theories.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
[email protected]
Sonnet 49 - If Ever that Time comes...
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
11/15/24 • 28 min
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.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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The Meta-Sonnets Podcast Reboot
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
10/22/24 • 5 min
I've decided to change the name of the podcast.
1. The Meta-Sonnets Podcast is a much better name
2. I wanted to get "secret" out of the title
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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2 - What is a Sonnet? (Advanced)
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
12/10/22 • 19 min
You might think you know what a sonnet is, and that's great. So, let's get advanced and test your knowledge.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
[email protected]
Season 2 Trailer - What is Act 2?
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
08/30/24 • 7 min
This season I will cover my favorite part of The Sonnets: Act 2 or Sonnets 43-70. In this short episode I will tell you why - because Shakespeare's idea are both genius and highly entertaining!
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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Sonnet 50 - The Meta-Sonnets Jump the Shark
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
11/22/24 • 21 min
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.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
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1 - Introduction
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
12/10/22 • 27 min
If you want to rediscover the genius of The Sonnets, here's everything you need to know.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
[email protected]
The Best 14 Sonnets No One's Ever Understood
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry
09/06/24 • 23 min
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.
www.sonnetspodcast.com
[email protected]
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry have?
The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry currently has 20 episodes available.
What topics does The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry cover?
The podcast is about Poetry, Shakespeare, Theater, Podcasts, Books, Arts and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry?
The episode title '3 - The Sonnets Revealed' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry?
The average episode length on The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry is 25 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry released?
Episodes of The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry?
The first episode of The Meta-Sonnets Podcast = A New Way to Read Shakespeare's Poetry was released on Dec 10, 2022.
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