Venus and Adonis (1593)

by William Shakespeare

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
247	6	115,395	(3.69)	35
In one of William Shakespeare's most popular poems, Venus spies the young and beautiful Adonis as he prepares for a hunt. She passionately kisses and attempts to seduce him, but Adonis is young and more interested in his hunt, and so he leaves Venus, only to find his own tragic end. Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.… (more)

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poetry of love and lust (

)

Kristelh | Sep 3, 2022 |

Good poem, dedicated to the Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare regarded it as his first publication, and that statement necessarily excluded his dramatic work. Th poem is not a retelling of any Greek or Roman work, but a love story using the names the readers would find common enough to set the matter of the poem firmly in their minds without descending to the gritty particulars. It was quite popular during the playwright's lifetime. It bears up well under rereading. (

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DinadansFriend | May 20, 2022 |

Maybe it's just the ancient studies of that far-off teenage years that was calling out to me, but I had this insane urge to reread this classic poem of lust. It contrasts nicely with the recent romance novels that I've had the dubious enjoyment of reading. It's particularly nice to see a strong-headed woman who feels no issue with chasing after a man who would rather spear a boar than her. I wonder if Adonis was actually Scottish? Maybe West-Virginian? Alas, alak, would he rather swive a swine than appeal to Aphrodite? Wait. Am I talking about romance novels or Shakespeare? Damn... nothing is ever clear-cut. (

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bradleyhorner | Jun 1, 2020 |

Try as she might, the Lusty Venus doesn't succeed in seducing Adonis. Unfortunately for her, he's more interested in hunting boars which proves to be his downfall. (

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LindaLeeJacobs | Feb 15, 2020 |

One of Shakespeare's narrative poems. It's been about a year and a half since I read it, but I remember really enjoying it at the time. It's beautifully written. One thing I found entertaining was the fact that Venus was so lustful and domineering over Adonis. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys Shakespeare's plays. (

)

lizpatanders | Apr 4, 2011 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Shakespeare, William	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Doebler, John	Editor	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Publisher Series

Arion Press (3)

Bandanna Shakespeare Series

Little Blue Books (256)

Is contained in

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: The Edition of The Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford by William Shakespeare

The Works of William Shakespeare: The Henry Irving Shakespeare: Volume 14: Sonnets and Poems, Shakespeare-land by William Shakespeare (indirect)

William Shakespeare: Complete Works by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare the Complete Works Vol I The Comedies by William Shakespeare

The complete works of William Shakespeare : reprinted from the First Folio (volume 13 of 13) by William Shakespeare

The Narrative Poems by William Shakespeare

(show 7 more)

Sonnets and Narrative Poems by William Shakespeare (indirect)

The Poems by William Shakespeare

Venus and Adonis the Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare

The Annotated Shakespeare Volume II: The Histories, Sonnets and Other Poems by William Shakespeare

The Annotated Shakespeare: The Comedies, Histories, Sonnets and Other Poems, Tragedies and Romances Complete by William Shakespeare (indirect)

The Norton Shakespeare Vol. 1: Early Plays and Poems by William Shakespeare

The Norton Shakespeare: Two Volume Set by William Shakespeare (indirect)

Was inspired by

Metamorphoses [in translation] by Ovid

Has as a student's study guide

A Study Guide for William Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis" by Anne Marie Hacht

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Gregynog Letterpress Prize (Shortlist – 2005)

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Canonical title

Venus and Adonis

Original title

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Epigraph

Dedication

to Tonia, who showed me another side of love

First words

Even as the sun with purple-colored face
Had taken his last leave of the weeping morn,
Rose-cheeked Adonis tried him to the chase.
Hunting he loved, but love—he laughed to scorn;
Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him,
And like a bold-faced suitor begins to woo him.

Quotations

Here I prophesy,
Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend.
It shall be waited on with jealousy,
Find sweet beginning, but unsavory end;
Never settled equally, but high or low;
That all love’s pleasure shall not match his woe.

O strange excuse!
When reason is the bawd to lust’s abuse.

O! you did kill me; kill me once again.

Last words

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▾References

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Wikipedia in English (1)

Cupid's bow

▾Book descriptions

In one of William Shakespeare's most popular poems, Venus spies the young and beautiful Adonis as he prepares for a hunt. She passionately kisses and attempts to seduce him, but Adonis is young and more interested in his hunt, and so he leaves Venus, only to find his own tragic end. Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

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