Fear no more

1. Fear No More
Fear no more the heat o' the sun;
Nor the furious winter's rages,
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney sweepers come to dust.

Fear no more the frown of the great,
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke:
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning-flash,
Nor the all-dread thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan;
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

2. Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renowned be thy grave!


Meaning
“Fear No More” By William Shakespeare

“Fear no more” By William Shakespeare William Shakespeare utilizes simplistic language to
emphasize the themes in “Fear no more;” however, he exercises complex metaphors to depict the
struggles one undergoes during a lifetime and as a result urges the reader to overcome all
melancholic sentiments that lead one to oppose a peaceful death. The diction applied in “Fear no
more” efficiently creates emphasis on specific sections of the poem. In addition, the euphonic flow
used by Shakespeare illustrates the author’s serenity and resignation towards the subject at hand. In
essence, Shakespeare’s “Fear no more” employs rhetorical devices such as repetition, appeal to the
audience, and imagery to reveal the desired theme. The fundamental theme of this poem is
regarding the significance of succumbing to death, for after having a full life everyone must
fearlessly face the end. In addition, the poem emphasizes that one should not fight against the
arrival of death in any of its forms. In fact, this argument is first introduced in the title and further
displayed throughout Shakespeare’s poem. In the first line of all three stanzas, the author begins
with the phrase, “Fear no more,” openly showing his belief that one should willingly submit to
mortality. Furthermore, the poem’s theme is displayed through the phrase “all must … come to
dust.” By acknowledging that death is inevitable for all of humanity, the author attempts to
emphasize his belief that one should not “fear” fate. The theme of the poem is also reinforced
through repetition. For example, to emphasize his stance, the author repeats the phrase, “Fear no
more” in the first line of the first, second, and third stanza of the poem. Once again this occurs with
the phrase, “must… come to dust” in the fifth and sixth line of the first, second, and third stanza.
This is of importance Vidal 2 because it reiterates that the author’s main purpose is to instill the
notion that one should not struggle against mortal defeat because it will eventually come upon
everyone, including those that have attained fulfillment from life. In Shakespeare’s first stanza, the
theme is applied to a wide audience that may have different fears. In this stanza Shakespeare
explains that one should, “Fear not the heat o’ the sun, /Nor the furious winter’s rages; ” for we
have completed our “worldly task…/ Home art gone, and *have+ ta’en *our+ wages.” Through these
ideas, the author is stating that once one has done everything in one’s power to help the world
(“Thou thy worldly task hast done”) nothing is left to do but to wait for death. In fact, he believes
once death is near, there is no need to preoccupy oneself with insignificant worries, such as the
changes in the elements. In addition, the poet continues by declaring that everyone, including
“Golden lads and girls… must, / As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.” This statement explains that
the young and wealthy (“Golden”) as well as the older and poor (“chimney-sweepers”) can not
escape death. Thus, Shakespeare he is expressing the opinion that death will follow one’s life,

3. whether good or bad, and is not something to dread because everyone will, at one point or another,
have to endure it’s arrival. Throughout the second stanza, Shakespeare continues to stress his idea
by addressing other fears and types of people. For example, the author explains that one should not
be fearful of other’s thoughts (“frown o’ the great”) or actions (“tyrant’s stroke”). In fact, he
continues by stating that our daily routines will no longer be priorities (“Care no more to clothe and
eat”) because once death arrives we will lose the ability to feel and compare the objects that
surround us (“To thee the reed is as the oak”). In addition, Shakespeare states that “scepter,
learning, *and+ physic” will also experience demise (“must / All follow this and come to dust”). The
poet’s affirmation emphasizes that death is unavoidable for everyone, including those of high status,
therefore, one should not attempt to fight it. Overall, by showing that diverse groups will Vidal 3
have to encounter the same event, Shakespeare is able to convey his message that one should not
panic when death begins to approach because it is the concluding cycle of every human’s life. Lastly,
to emphasize his position, the poet uses the third stanza to bring together the ideas of the first two
stanzas; however he adds a twist that stresses the importance of this concluding stanza. For
example, he asks the reader, as in the previous stanzas, not to be alarmed by nature (“lightning-
flash,” the “dreaded thunder-stone,”) or by those whose careless words or actions (“slander,
censure rash”) cause emotional pain. As opposed to the other stanzas, the third does not urge the
reader to ignore the small trifles in life. This idea is seen as Shakespeare continues this final thought
by stating, “Thou hast finished joy and moan. / All lovers young, all lovers must / Consign to thee,
and come to dust.” This statement attempts to show that once one is dead one can no longer enjoy
the happiness (“joy”) or the distress (“moan”) that we are allowed to experience during a lifetime;
therefore, we should take advantage of the time we have left. In addition, this line further reiterates
the author’s theme that all, including those that are blessed with emotional happiness (“lovers
young, all lovers…”), will have to leave this world. Ultimately, the third, and final, stanza serves as a
summary to the rest of the poem, successfully leaving the intended theme inculcated in the reader’s
mind. The use of imagery in Shakespeare’s “Fear no more” allows the reader to relate to the poem
by permitting a view of the individual fears that the people must try to overcome. The images that
are seen throughout Shakespeare’s poem are those of nature and different people as well as actions
that cause emotional or physical pain. The images of people serve to characterize everyone’s
differing traits, whereas, the images of nature and of careless actions represent situations that cause
pain and emotional distress. For example, the words, and phrases, “Golden lads and girls” (line 5),
“chimney-sweepers” (line 6), “scepter, learning, physic” (line 11) and “lovers young, all lovers” (line
17) serve to illustrate the difference in age and status of the people Vidal 4 that will walk to the
same, inescapable path. Furthermore, the poem is endowed with images that portray (nature’s and
perhaps one’s) uneasiness and affliction, such as “heat of the sun” (line 1), “furious winter’s rages”
(line 2), “frown” (line 7), “tyrant’s stroke” (line 8), “lightning-flash” (line 13), “thunder-stone” (line
14), and “slander, censure rash” (line 15). These words and phrases have negative connotations;
however, each is preceded by the phrase “Fear no more” which in turn highlights the poem’s theme
and the significance of not being overwhelmed by one’s fears. Thus, the imagery utilized inflicts
emotion upon the reader, which in response grants him/her the ability to correlate to the poem. On
the whole, William Shakespeare utilizes effective literary tools to create a successful composition.
Through language, and the reference of different age and social groups, Shakespeare creates
imagery that is essential to the context of the poem. In addition, the ideas presented allow the
reader to relate to the theme of the poem, which urges all to encounter death without having to
fear it. For example, the powerful emotions that are granted by the poem may have been inspired

4. by Shakespeare’s personal experiences, such as seeing the fear in a person’s eyes when they knew
they were nearing death. Therefore, it is important that one does not become absorbed with
melancholy or despair, but instead realizes that one should, “Fear no more, … *for we+ must *all+
come to dust.” Vidal 5 Fear no more Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s
rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages. Golden lads and girls all
must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. Fear no more the frown o’ the great; Thou art past the
tyrant’s stroke; Care no more to clothe and eat; To thee the reed is as the oak. The scepter, learning,
physic, must All follow this, and come to dust. Fear no more the lightning-flash, Nor the all-dreaded
thunder-stone; Fear not slander, censure rash; Thou hast finished joy and moan. All lovers young, all
lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust. William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

About author
William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616)[nb 1] was an English poet and
playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-
eminent dramatist.[1] He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".[2][nb 2] His
surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays,[nb 3] 154 sonnets, two
long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major
living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.[3]

Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne
Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585
and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing
company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have
retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's
private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical
appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by
others.[4]

Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613.[5][nb 4] His early plays
were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by
the end of the 16th century. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King
Lear, Othello, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last
phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. In
1623, two of his former theatrical colleagues published the First Folio, a collected edition of his
dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's.

5. Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to
its present heights until the 19th century. The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's
genius, and the Victorians worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George Bernard Shaw
called "bardolatry".[6] In the 20th century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by
new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular today and are
constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts
throughout the world.

William Shakespeare

The Chandos portrait, artist and authenticity unconfirmed. National Portrait Gallery, London.
Born Baptised 26 April 1564 (birth date unknown)
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Died 23 April 1616 (aged 52)
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Occupation Playwright, poet, actor
Literary movement English Renaissance theatre
Spouse(s) Anne Hathaway (m. 1582–1616)
Children Susanna Hall
Hamnet Shakespeare
Judith Quiney
Relative(s) John Shakespeare (father)
Mary Shakespeare (mother)
Signature

A Fairy Song

6. Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
Meaning
Cowslips are indeed flowers and they have a little pearl like drop hanging down in them that is what
the last line is about, its talking about a fairy flying around enjoying spreading dew drops on the
plants