ClaraSimpson Ms.Gardner Eng.10Hon.

12September2013
PoemAnalysis

InSonnet5,Shakespearepoeticallycomparestheeverchangingseasonstothevolatile
beautyofhisbeloved. WilliamShakespearesuseoftragicanddramaticimagery,euphoniousassonanceand poeticdictionvividlyportraytherelationbetweenthepassingofseasonsandgrowingold. ThepersonificationoftheseasonsinthelinesForneverrestingtimeleadssummeron tohideouswinterandconfoundshimthere,createsametaphorforthelossofbeautythat isaderivativeofoldage.Neverrestingtimeleadssummeryouthtohideouswinter, whichrepresentsoldage.ThecacophonousconsonanceofthelineSapcheckedwith frostandthealliterationoflustyleavesquitegonerepresentsthebarren,frozen wastelandofthesubjectsbody.TheauthormakesuseofpoeticimagerywiththelineA liquidprisonerpentinwallsofglass,referringtoperfume.Theeuphoniouslanguageofthe linesButflowersdistilledthoughtheywithwintermeet,aswellasLeesebuttheirshow, theirsubstancestilllivessweet.leavespleasantimageryinthereadersmind.Theselines suggesttheeverpresentinneryouththatlivesonthrougholdage. Nomatterhowbeautifuloneis,thatbeautywilleventuallyfadewiththechangingofthe seasons.Theauthorskillfullycomparesbyusingdramaticdictiontheseasonstoan omnipotentforcethatrobspeopleoftheiryouth.Thesubjectofthepoemfallspreytothis phenomena,buthissurpassingbeautyretainsanelementofyouthfulness.