Each format greatly affects ones poem and the chosen theme. The sonnet has clear thought
divisions and the theme of love is a good choice for a short poem. Shakespeare uses good
sound devices to epitomize the theme and form. This Shakespearean sonnet by William
Shakespeare is a good example of how the sonnet form is complimentary to the theme.
In this Shakespearean sonnet, the form conforms to the original format. Both the
original and this poem have three quatrains and a concluding couplet and have a clear
thought division about half way through the sonnet.
"And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade" (lines 7-9)
This type of poetry suites the subject Shakespeare has chosen to write about because each
quatrain has a different means to compare the subject to a summer's day and about half
way through, Shakespeare changes and decides that the subject is better than a summer's
day. The sonnet is essentially made up of two different parts, the first being the
problem and the second part being an answer. The theme that Shakespeare has chosen is
love and this theme works well with the sonnet format. The first half of this sonnet is
written about how the subject is like a summer's day, for example: "Thou art more
lovely and more temperate:" (line 2) and after line eight, Shakespeare concludes that the
subject cannot be a summer's day because they are more beautiful and will last longer
than summer itself. The sonnet form is suitable for this theme because it allows the
direct comparison of the subject to a summer's day, and the thought division allows the
author to change his mind and reconsider the comparison.
Shakespeare uses many sound devices in this sonnet. The sound devices exemplify the
theme and the form. In line eleven, Shakespeare writes, "Nor shall death brag thou
wanderest in his shade,." This is a solid example of euphanism. Euphanism is important
in a line such as this in a love poem because one cannot just say, 'You will not die.' A
love poem is supposed to be soft and suggestive and one who was blunt would end the
theme. Shakespeare also uses extended metaphors. "And summer's lease hath all too short
a date:" (line 4) is an excellent example of the extended metaphor. Not only is
Shakespeare personifying the summer by giving it a lease as a store might have, but he
extends the image of a lease beyond that which it is normally felt to be. A lease is
usually thought to be for only a short time, however, Shakespeare carries the length
further as if to say that ones life is only a lease of ones body. These two sound
devices show off the way the sonnet fits the theme.
The choice of the sonnet form by the author was a suitable one because he could use the
characteristics of the sonnet to his advantage to create a specific situation. This
helps to show how strongly the author feels about the subject. The four quatrains of the
Shakespearean sonnet show different ways of comparing the subject to another. The
thought division allows the author to show what the subject is and what it is not. To
demonstrate the way the form fits the theme, sound devices are good aides to the author.
The poem fits the sonnet form because the author wants to show how definite his feelings
are for the subject and how the subject is not just an inanimate object but more than
that because one is alive and will live forever,even after the death of one because of
memories written within the poem.
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