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Sonnet 116

Sonnet 116. Mainly a philosophical reflection on the nature of true love. A supremely confident tone. May refer to married love Or a faithful loving friendship Or both?. 1 - 4. I would not admit that anything could interfere with the union of two people who truly love each other.

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Sonnet 116

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  1. Sonnet 116 • Mainly a philosophical reflection on the nature of true love. • A supremely confident tone. • May refer to married love • Or a faithful loving friendship • Or both?

  2. 1 - 4 • I would not admit that anything could interfere with the union of two people who truly love each other. • Love that alters with changing circumstances is not love, • Nor if it bends from its firm state when someone tries to destroy it. 5 - 8 • Oh no, it’s an eternally fixed point that watches storms but is never itself shaken by them. • It is the star by which every lost ship can be guided: • one can calculate it’s distance but never know its worth.

  3. 9 - 12 • Love doesn’t depend on Time, although the rosy lips and cheeks of youth eventually come within the compass of Time’s sickle. • Love doesn’t alter as the days and weeks go by but endures until death. • If this is all a mistake and I can be proved wrong • then I’ve never written anything and no man has ever loved. 13 - 14

  4. Points to note • Opening line refers to the words of an anglican marriage service • A series of negative definitions stating what love is not 1 – 4 • A powerful exclamation in line 5 – “Oh no!” followed by a series of positive metaphors defining love. • A range of powerful statements…it is “ever fixed…never shaken…the star to every wandering bark” (lost ship). • Note the maritime imagery. The star guides, gives direction, assures safety. This is what true love does! • The sestet returns to negative definitions; love is not subject to time - although youth and beauty may be (note the personification of time as the reaper once more). Love endures (the ravages of time) till death itsel! • The speaker ends with a remarkable statement. If I’m wrong about all this then I’ve never written anything and no has ever loved anyone else! • Obviously he has written and obviously people have loved each other…therefore his point is ‘self proving’ so to speak. So, an enormously confident ending.

  5. Mechanics etc… • Alliteration “me…marriage…minds” • “love…love” • “remover…remove” • “compass come” • Assonance “Admit impediments…is / …it…love….love” • “alters…alteration” • “remover…remove” • “star…bark” • “unknown…although” • Personification of time as the reaper. • Use of the “tempests” as a metaphor for the storms of life. • Use of “the star” as a metaphor for direction, surity, safety…love halps you navigate safely through the sometimes stormy waters of life.

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