An Analysis of Shakespeares Sonnet 116 Essay - 536 Words

An Analysis of Shakespeares Sonnet 116 Shakespeares Sonnet 116, denying Times harvest of love, contains 46 iambic, 15 spondaic, 6 pyrrhic, and 3 trochaic feet. Like the varying magnitudes of stars that distinguish the skys constellations, infused with myths describing all degrees and types of love, the spondaic, trochaic, and pyrrhic substitutions create a pattern of meaning that can be inferred by the discerning eye and mind. Shakespeare emphasizes his denial of the effects of Time on love by accenting not in lines 1, 2, 9, and 11, and no in lines 5 and 14. The forceful spondees at the beginning and the regular iambic feet at the end of each quatrain progressively build the poets passionate rejection of loves transience.†¦show more content†¦the quality and duration of love reciprocated, without additional information. The meanings of the poems brilliantly varied iambic lines revolve around loves one fixed star, extending this image to the whole sonnet. Quatrain 1 begins with the unusual scansion of spondee, trochaic, iambic, pyrrhic, and spondee. No matter how unusual the situation, Shakespeare will not object to mutual love between honest people. Furthermore, their love should not depend on circumstances or peoples opinions. The iambic foot of Which alters links across the poem to the spondee of Love alters in Quatrain 3. The abrupt trochaic, even, in line 12, reinforces the importance of reciprocity in love, for love to be eternal. Moreover, the word bears alludes to the myth of the enduring love of Callisto and her son, Arca, as represented by the constellations of Ursa Major and Minor, with the North Star at the point of the tail of Little Bear. Quatrain 3, with a ratio of 15 regular to 5 irregular feet, begins with 2 spondees followed by 8 iambic feet. This sequence of regular feet evokes the sweep of Times sickle, alluding to the far-reaching arc of the tail of the Great Bear cutting through and reaping the love legends linked to such constellations as Virgo (rosy lips and cheeks), Gemini (looks on tempests), and Andromeda and Perseus (impediments to the marriage of true minds). Unlike the quatrains, the final couplet begins quietly with iambic and pyrrhic feet. Then,Show MoreRelatedShakespeare - Sonnet 116 Analysis and Interpretation887 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare – Sonnet 116 Analysis and interpretation Sonnet 116 was written by William Shakespeare and published in 1609. William Shakespeare was an English writer and poet, and has written a lot of famous plays, amongst them Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan era. At that time, the literature and art was in bloom, and his works are clearly characterized by that era both as language and theme goes. A sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines, three quatrainsRead MoreSonnet 116 Love Essay1167 Words   |  5 PagesLove is a central theme in William Shakespeares sonnets, yet the means by which love is expressed and the form in which it takes differs across various sonnets. In sonnet 116, Shakespeare lavishes the reader with beautiful imagery of love in its most idyllic form. On the other hand, in sonnet 130, he adopts a more realistic approach to love as it is experienced by everyday people. In both cases, the poet is able to artfully convey the theme of love in its various forms such that the reader is ableRead MoreShakespeare s Sonnets : Reoccurring Themes1479 Words   |  6 PagesSweet Sorrow†: Reoccurring themes in Shakespeare’s Sonnets. English poet William Shakespeare is known for his astounding works around the world. Sonnets are beautifully constructed and rear lasting truths about the world we live in. All of Shakespeare’s sonnets are in the form of an English sonnet. He used this method so frequently that it has coined the term the Shakspearian sonnet. Shakespeare has written a collection of 154 sonnets’, the first 126 sonnets address a young man and the last, aboutRead MoreSonnet 116 by William Shakespeare1002 Words   |  4 Pageslove found consistently within many forms of literature. The reoccurring theme of love is indicated within two poems, Sonnet 116 written by Shakespeare and Cinderella by Anne Sexton. Love is like a diamond, extremely rare and difficult to find. Shakespeare and Anne Sexton surpassed many other author’s in being able to capture the theme of love in their pieces of literature. Sonnet 116, written by Shakespeare, is one of the most popular love poems to this day. The poem explains thoroughly what trueRead MoreLove and Lust in the Lyrics (Shakespeares Sonnets)1514 Words   |  7 PagesA sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines that rhyme in a particular pattern. William Shakespeare’s sonnets were the only non-dramatic poetry that he wrote. Shakespeare used sonnets within some of his plays, but his sonnets are best known as a series of one hundred and fifty-four poems. The series of one hundred and fifty-four poems tell a story about a young aristocrat and a mysterious mistress. Many people have analyzed and contemplated about the significance of these â€Å"lovers†. After analysis ofRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnet 30960 Words   |  4 Pagesin his sonnets. Shakespeare s Sonnets clarify the value of human relationships by showing that friendship can end one’s own sadness, that love should be commemorated, and that marriage between true minds is loyal and consistent. â€Å"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored and sorrows end.† In Sonnet 30, a past friendship between two mates ends one’s own sadness and selfish sorrows. The speaker’s thoughts and feelings shift greatly throughout Sonnet 30. AsRead MoreEssay on Poem Analysis – Sonnet 116762 Words   |  4 PagesPoem Analysis – Sonnet 116 ‘Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds’ Study the first 12 lines of the poem. Discuss how Shakespeare makes a statement in the first and second lines, and then use lines 2-12 to give examples which supports his viewpoints. In the first two lines of the poem Shakespeare writes, Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments: love is not love The first line shows that he thinks you should not marry unless you are faithful. He says ‘letRead MoreThe History And Culture Of English Literature1979 Words   |  8 Pagestake shape. This period starts with the Norman invasion in 1066, where we learn of a woman in the federal aristocracy, marriage viewed as a political act and the introduction of courtly love. It is mysticism and magic that plays a role in the analysis of ideas and stories of the Catholic belief during the Middle English Period which is evident in the literary works of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. A historically non-Christian era is the backdrop Pg 1 in Beowulf butRead MoreStudy Guide Literary Terms7657 Words   |  31 Pagesexaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others. 22. causal analysis writing- seeks to identify and understand the reasons why things are as they are and hence enabling focus of change activity. causal analysis links actions or events along a time line, but it differs from process analysis in that it tells us why something happens, is happening, or will probably happen. Therefore, a causal analysis can serve one or more of four main purposes: to entertain, to inform, to speculate