# Muse — Poetry character guide

> Muse in Poetry by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0027-sonnets

## Who they are

The poetic muse, invoked in the sonnets.

## In the story

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/viii)

Implied as the inspiration for poetry and music, united in the friend.

### [Sonnet 21](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxi)

Referenced as the inspiration for poets who use elaborate comparisons.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxxii)

Referenced as the source of the poet's inspiration, which might have grown with the age.

### [Sonnet XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxxviii)

The poet's Muse is depicted as needing the beloved's inspiration to create.

### [LXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxviii)

The poet's Muse, invoked repeatedly for inspiration and fair assistance in verse.

### [Sonnet LXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxix)

The poet's sick muse that gives place to another.

### [Sonnet LXXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxxii)

The poet's Muse is referenced as the source of his inspiration, from which the friend is not bound.

### [Sonnet LXXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxxiv)

Implied as the source of poetic inspiration, struggling to adequately capture the beloved's essence.

### [Sonnet LXXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxxv)

The poet's tongue-tied Muse remains silent while others compile praise.

### [Sonnet LXXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxxvi)

Implied as the source of inspiration that the poet feels he has lost.

### [Sonnet 100](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/c)

The poet addresses the Muse directly, urging her to return and sing of his love.

### [Sonnet CI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/ci)

The poet's Muse is addressed as 'truant' and urged to fulfill its duty of praising the beloved.

### [Sonnet CIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/ciii)

The poet's Muse is described as bringing forth poor verse, unable to match the beloved's beauty.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters/muse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters