Sonnet 116 Flashcards
(28 cards)
“impediments”
links to Christian wedding vows (impediments on why you should not get married) emphasising nothing should stand in the way of true love, shown through use of caesura
“love is not love”
the repetition emphasises the longevity of love
“alters… Alteration” “remover to remove”
polyptoton further emphasises the durability of love
“ever-fixed mark”
likens it to a lighthouse which offers guidance and it shows strength
“that looks on tempests and is never shaken”
shows that love is powerful and can withstand difficult times
“the star to every wandering bark”
likens love to the North Star, showing it as a priceless guide to all people and showing reliability
“Love’s not Time’s fool”
suggests love is not affected by time, and the capital letters personifies them as enemies in combat
“rosy lips and cheeks”
beauty is affected by time but love is not
“sickle’s compass come”
sibilance and alliteration emphasises the sinister tone and image of death created by the use of the word sickle
“brief hours and weeks… to the edge of doom”
emphasises the brevity of life juxtaposed to the longevity of love
“even to the edge of doom”
metaphor emphasises the power of love and shows that it can overcome extremes
“If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, not no man ever loved”
final rhyming couplet offers challenge to the reader through the use of rhetorical statements and hyperbole, both of which are clearly not true and Shakespeare uses language that shows this certainty
Mostly iambic pentameter
Despite subtle variations, the overall regularity of the meter is like a heartbeat, showing the constancy of love
Rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFBB - reflects the 3 quatrains and final couplet, which returns to BB instead of a new rhyme GG, a traditional rhyming structure in a Shakespearean sonnet
Strong consistent rhyme, mirroring speaker’s belief that love can endure any obstacle and will not change. The change to BB rhyming couplet at the end of the poem brings the speaker’s message back to his original point from the opening of the poem, that love does not change with time or obstacles
Typical Shakespearean sonnet, first 12 lines of poem grouped into 3 quatrains,volta comes at the end of the poem with a rhyming couplet and begins with the word “if” in line 13
Shakespearean sonnets are usually written with the theme of love in mind. Volta usually is the turning point but here, volta reaffirms the speaker’s beliefs about love’s power and constancy
Enjambment used throughout the poem
Use of enjambment mirrors the speaker’s own beliefs on love, the enjambent used in the second line urges reader to continue reading in order to understand what love is. Enjambment also emphasises the speaker’s views on love
Hyperbole used throughout the poem
The speaker’s passionate ideas and intensity of feeling is conveyed through this
Shakespeare uses alliteration in the poem
Alliteration strengthens the speaker’s argument in matters of love and emphasises the true qualities of love
True Love - written during 1590s at a time of peace and prosperity during Elizabeth I’s reign
During this time, poets and playwrights focused on themes to do with love rather than war or invasion
True Love - sonnet form popularised in late 16th century and normally written from male speaker’s perspective who were passionately in love
Speakers are often on the edge of madness with love, which is typically unrequited. Sonnet form uses metaphors and hyperbolic language to emphasise the depth of the speaker’s love
True Love - Sonnet 116 similar in context but speaker in Shakespearean poem is not concerned with unrequited love
Poem describes love as a binding and everlasting force that does not alter or change over time, while the poem generally takes on traditional sonnet form and themes, love is presented as eternal and beautiful instead of causing pain and suffering
True Love - speaker uses nautical metaphors to describe love’s power to endure
Use of nautical metaphors was popular during the Renaissance period and this imagery was used in sonnets to describe the speaker’s passion or pain when it came to matters of the heart. Speaker is therefore highlighting how love is a guiding force that can help lovers navigate “tempests” in “wandering barks” to safety
True Love - speaker uses astronomic metaphor of a star
Metaphor in “who’s worth’s unknown” links to Greek philosopher Plato’s view that everyone had a kindred star and that the highest type of love is beyond human comprehension. Star elevates the idea of love in Sonnet 116 by turning it into something beyond human reach, while humans may feel it by taking in its “height”, they cannot fully comprehend its power or worth
True Love - Final line of the poem not only reaffirms speaker’s beliefs but also highlights his unwavering belief in his previous statements
Do not believe that true love changes or alters over time and declare that, if they are incorrect, no one has ever truly loved, however their passionate beliefs could stem from naivety and a desire to impress the listener
