Sonnet 116

Sonnet 116

1. Structure

   • The sonnet has 14 lines, divided into three stanzas of four lines each and a final couplet.
   • The rhyme scheme is: a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g
   • This sonnet follows the normal structure of a sonnet which is to change the mood at the end of the sonnet using a rhyming couplet.

2. Attitudes, themes, ideas

   • love is a mysterious force "Whose worth's unknown", implying love is priceless
   • Love is constant- metaphor "star"
     • love, like the stars in the night sky, can be observed across the globe throughout time. Love is not restricted by time or place, but exists above all considerations.
   • The traditional idea of love and time being enemies is explored briefly in Sonnet 116. Shakespeare is clear about the positive virtues of love: even when the "rosy lips and cheeks of youth" fall victim to Time's "sickle"

3. Language

   • uses repeated pairs of words: "love is not love", "alters when it alteration finds" and "remover to remove"
     • These repeated words suggest that they are a loving couple
   • metaphors based on natural elements, suggesting that love is natural and an essential part of life.
     • "is the star to every wand'ring bark" it's a fixed point of light in the sky - a "star" - guiding a boat ("wand'ring bark") lost at sea.
   • There are some opposites and negatives used to stress the qualities of love by saying what it is not: true love can observe storms ("tempests") and not be affected; "Love's not Time's fool".
   • The opening lines of the poem follow the christian marriage vows ("the marriage of true minds")
     • They also stress the idea that love should be without "impediments". Meaning true love should be without fault.
   • "bears it out even to the edge of doom" This suggests that love will always win over "doom" (something bad)

4. comparison

   • To his coy mistress
   • Sonnet 43