The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Duffy, Carol Ann. "Anne Hathaway." The World's Wife. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2001).

Note that parenthetical citations within the guide refer to the line number from which the quotation is taken.

Carol Ann Duffy's sonnet "Anne Hathaway" is based on a line from the will of William Shakespeare, an early modern poet and playwright who is arguably the most famous figure in the English literary canon. In the will, Shakespeare writes, "Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed." This line has become the subject of scrutiny for readers, with many considering it an insult to Hathaway's role in Shakespeare's life. Comparatively little is known about Hathaway compared to her husband, and this line from Shakespeare's will, many believe, indicates that Hathaway was surprisingly unimportant to the playwright as he garnered fame and notoriety.

Carol Ann Duffy takes a different approach to the will in her sonnet "Anne Hathaway." Told from the perspective of Hathaway herself, the poem describes Hathaway's connection to that "second-best bed" as an emblem of her relationship with her husband. The sonnet reframes the notion of the gift as an insult to instead argue that the gift of the bed is a reminder of Shakespeare's commitment both to his work and to his wife. As such, the poem frequently conflates the bed with poetry itself, advocating for its superiority over other beds and other arts.