Literary Analysis Essay of Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116’
Sonnet 116 is one of the more famous poems of William Shakespeare. Like any of his poems, it is an Elizabethan sonnet and remains to be written in iambic pentameter. Also, the piece is divided into quatrains with four stanzas each with two lines after and follows a specific rhyme pattern of a-b-a-b, c-d-cd, e-f-e-f, g-g (EastPenn.edu 1). Readers who read this sonnet also encounter various literary devices that provide depth and meaning to the piece. For instance, the use of figures of speech such as metaphors, repetition and personification remains to be evident on various lines. In addition, the tone of the piece arguably remains to be reflective of what the person thinks and through experience teach readers to appreciate important themes such as love and loyalty.
The theme that stood out when reading Sonnet 116 is the concept of love. One of the most important points highlighted in the poem is the ability of love to transcend the boundaries of time. It remains to be a natural feeling that enables people to find relevance and to connections. For example, the line ‘Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks’ depict an important point in the manner that love transcends time (Brenner 1). This input remains to be evident as the poem tries to examine the concept of love as one that goes beyond physical beauty or manifestations but a feeling that endures and remains to be evident among many.
Another important theme presented by Shakespeare in this poem is loyalty. Looking closely, the sonnet finds a positive relationship that exists between loyalty and love. For love to prosper, there must be the willingness to stick to what we believe. One must be willing to go beyond the trials and hardships for love to be considered real. In particular, Shakespeare provides these lines by mentioning, "Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, | But bears it out even to the edge of doom” (1). This quote goes to show that love that recognizes the importance of loyalty endures and gives individuals the strength to overcome any challenge that may come their way.
Lastly, there is ability to showcase the importance of experience in depicting the reality that surrounds love. In the last two lines of the sonnet, the poem reaffirms the stance surrounding love and its timelessness. It particularly gives emphasis to the argument that it is through experience that individuals are able to decide the reality of the points mentioned throughout the poem. Specifically, the concluding points offered in the couplet seek to address opposing views and reiterate the significance and importance of love (Shakespeare 1). It is through such approach that Shakespeare offers a logical ending to his poem about love and its true meaning to people.
Overall, the focal point that Shakespeare contends in Sonnet 116 involves love and its ability to be a valuable source of inspiration for many. Throughout the poem, themes related to love, loyalty and experience continue to emanate and encourage readers to understand the concept beyond physical manifestations. Equally, through the use of figures of speech, Shakespeare is able to evoke particular emotions and generate an artistic and insightful perspective surrounding the notion of love. It is through these reasons why this particular sonnet remains to be one of his most famous and well-acknowledged works in the field of literature.
Works Cited
Brenner, Alexander. ‘Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116: Analysis’ Hub Pages. 2012, Web. Accessed 13
July 2014.
EastPenn.edu.Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare,n.d. Web. Accessed 13 July 2014.
Shakespeare, William. ‘Sonnet 116’ The Atlantic Online, Linda Gregerson. Intro. 27 Oct. 1999.
Web. Accessed 13 July 2014.
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