Poem Analysis - A Sonnet Upon Sonnets

An Ode to the Number Fourteen

Robert Burns's "A Sonnet Upon Sonnets" is a playful and somewhat ironic exploration of the number fourteen. The poem begins with a seemingly earnest address to the sonnet form, then quickly descends into a series of seemingly random, often humorous, examples where the number fourteen appears. The tone is lighthearted and conversational, shifting between genuine admiration and a tongue-in-cheek cynicism. The poem ultimately uses these diverse examples to justify the sonnet's own fourteen-line structure, suggesting a hidden significance in the number itself.

The Poet's Playful Critique

While not explicitly tied to specific historical events, Burns's background as a Scottish poet writing in both Scots and English is relevant. He often critiqued social norms and celebrated the lives of ordinary people. "A Sonnet Upon Sonnets" can be viewed through this lens. The poem playfully mocks the elevated status of the sonnet form, while simultaneously celebrating it through the very act of writing one. This duality reflects Burns's broader social commentary, which often subverted expectations and challenged conventional hierarchies.

Life's Milestones and Limitations

One central theme is the brevity and cyclical nature of life. The poem references various stages and limitations tied to the number fourteen: chickens reaching maturity ("that fourteen chickens to the roost may fly"), a jockey's weight limit ("Fourteen full pounds the jockey's stone must be"), and the end of a horse's prime ("His age fourteen - a horse's prime is past"). These examples illustrate how the number fourteen marks points of transition, culmination, and sometimes decline in different aspects of life. Another theme touches upon human needs and desires as represented by hunger ("Fourteen long hours too oft the Bard must fast") and indulgence ("Fourteen bright bumpers - bliss he ne'er must see!"). The stark contrast between fasting and drinking highlights the poet's longing for basic fulfillment and perhaps a critique of the disparity between the poet's needs and his access to comfort. Finally, the idea of mortality is addressed directly near the poem's end ("Fourteen good years - a woman gives us life;/Fourteen good men - we lose that life again"). Here, the poem recognizes how birth and death, two monumental moments, can also be framed around the number fourteen.

Symbols and Unexpected Juxtapositions

The most prominent symbol is the number fourteen itself. While initially presented as a seemingly arbitrary figure, the poem imbues it with a surprising amount of weight. The image of the "hen" with "fourteen eggs beneath her wings" evokes a sense of nurturing and potential. The "jockey's stone" represents physical limitation and the pressure to conform. The "Bard" enduring "fourteen long hours" of fasting is a poignant image of artistic suffering. Each of these seemingly disparate images works to reinforce the idea that fourteen, whether by chance or design, appears throughout life's experiences. There is also a strong juxtaposition of mundane and profound subjects. The poem moves from chickens and jockeys to the giving and taking of life, creating a somewhat absurd, yet ultimately insightful, comparison between the everyday and the existential.

The Significance of Structure

While the poem's structure isn't the main focus, it is important to note that the poem itself, a sonnet, is formed of 14 lines. This lends extra significance to the poem. It could be interpreted that Burns is making a statement about the value of sonnets and their ability to communicate complex ideas or the poem could be read as an ironic critique of the sonnet form, implying that the arbitrary restriction of 14 lines is not significant at all. Ultimately, the ambiguity of this meaning and the use of diverse examples that don't immediately coalesce into a cohesive argument invites open interpretation and reflection on the value and arbitrary constraints in life and art.