Kelsey Bacon
a. Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare
b. In Shakespeare's Sonnet 73, the narrator creates metaphors to represent the fact that he is
growing older and approaching death. The narrator is becoming older not just physically, but he
is also growing out of his youthful desires, such as love. He is upset and doubtful of what will
happen in his future once he reaches death, but he comes to a realization in the last two lines.
It is stated that instead of love fading over time, it should grow stronger as the narrator has less
and less time to love.
c. Breakdown of text
"That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang"
“Upon these boughs which shake against the
cold/ Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet
birds sang.”
“Which by and by black night doth take away/
Death’s second self, which covers everything
in a deathly sleep.”
"In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire /
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,"
"As the death-bed whereon it must expire /
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd
by."
"This thou perceivest, which makes thy love
more strong / To love that well which thou
must leave ere long."
You may see me in the autumn months when
yellow leaves, none, or, few hang from the
trees. This creates the author's first metaphor
to compare himself to barren trees.
The leaves hang on the branches that are
shivering in the cold. The trees are like bare
church choirs where the birds used to sing.
This statement also compares the author to
barren and desolate objects.
The twilight is then gradually replaced by black
night and Death’s second self becomes
present. The darkness and Death cover
everything in a dark sheet.
You can see in me the glowing of a fire on the
ashes of a past fire. The past fire is
symbolizing his youth and that it has burnt out
in order for him to grow older.
The ashes symbolize the death-bed where the
fire will go out. The fire is consumed by what
it what nourished by, and this will cause it to
go out.
The sonnet is closed with the saying that if you
can see this, it makes your love grow stronger
as your life becomes shorter to where you
must leave it. Love grows stronger as a person
grows older.
d. Literary Devices
The metaphor of black night describes death
itself and the form it takes in the poem.
This metaphor compares the author to a
fire. It explains that the author has come to
a point in his life where he can reflect on
how old he has gotten and what he has
accomplished.
This couplet at the end of poem is an
"Which by and by black night doth take,"
"In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire"
"This thou perceivest, which makes thy love
Kelsey Bacon
example of a rhyme. The last two words in
each line, strong and long, rhyme with each
other.
The first two lines of the poem follow an
ABAB rhyme scheme where the first and
third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth
lines rhyme. This is carried out throughout
the poem and the same rhyme scheme
repeats in each quatrain.
The first line of the text portray imagery and
sets the scene for the rest of the poem by
painting the picture of autumn.
This line is an example of alliteration where
the "s" sound is repeated for emphasis and
to also help with the image of death.
more strong / To love that well which thou must
leave ere long."
"That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang,
Upon these boughs which shake against the
cold/ Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet
birds sang.”
"That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang"
"Death's second self, that seals up all in rest."
e. Tone
The tone of Sonnet 73 is tragic and is mainly based on the author's wishful thinking. He has
come to the realization that as he gets older, his love will become stronger, but in the back of his
mind he knows the older he becomes, the closer he gets to the end of his life and his inevitable
meeting with death. He also realizes that his youth has gone and he has become older physically and
that saddens him. His realization causes the reader to sympathize with him and feel sorry because
he has realized a contradictory ultimatum that has both a sad and happy ending. The author is
confused about how he should feel about death because as it approaches, he is conflicted between
the positives and negatives death brings with it.
f.
Theme
The theme of Sonnet 73 is that even though death approaches, it should not fully be seen as a
bad event in one's life, but that it brings positive aspects too. Today death is generally perceived as
a bad thing and associated with pain and mourning, but through this poem, other perceptions are
created. The realization of the theme isn't present until the last two lines of the poem, but they are
arguably the most important. As death comes closer, love grows stronger, and that is what should
be looked forward to at the end of one's life.
Sources:
Mabillard, Amanda. An Analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet 73. Shakespeare Online. 2000. Web. 11 Dec.
2012 < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/73detail.html >.
"Shakespeare's Sonnets Summary and Analysis." Shakespeare's Sonnets Study Guide : Summary and
Analysis of Sonnet 73. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012