Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare

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About this eBook

Author Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
Title Venus and Adonis
Note Reading ease score: 73.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits Dianne Bean
Summary "Venus and Adonis" by William Shakespeare is a narrative poem written during the late 16th century, specifically in the Elizabethan era. The poem is a classic example of Shakespeare's early work, blending themes of love and desire with elements of mythology. It primarily revolves around the relationship between Venus, the goddess of love, and Adonis, a strikingly handsome youth, exploring the tensions between attraction and rejection. The poem unfolds as Venus passionately pursues Adonis, who is more interested in hunting than in romantic entanglements. Venus employs various seductive strategies to win him over, but Adonis remains coy and uninterested. As the narrative progresses, Venus warns him about the perils of hunting a fierce boar. Ignoring her pleas, Adonis goes out to hunt, leading to his tragic demise. Heartbroken and grief-stricken, Venus laments his death and transforms his blood into a flower, symbolizing both love's beauty and its inherent pain. The poem is rich in imagery and emotion, offering a profound look at love's complexities, desire, and the inevitability of loss. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Venus (Roman deity) -- Poetry
Subject Adonis (Greek deity) -- Poetry
Category Text
EBook-No. 1045
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 8, 2023
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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