Sonnet 73

1 That time of year thou mayst in me behold a - That time of the year you see in me
2 When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang b -when late autumn leaves fall from
trees Assonance. Image of leaves falling from the tree

3 Upon those boughs which shake against cold, a - Branches swaying in the breeze.
4 Bare ruined ( substitute for bare branches on trees) choirs where late the sweet
birds sang. b - Quatrain one (image of a tree) Alliteration s-sound

Branches of trees are compared to choirs in a church singing ( metaphor)

Now in ruins;/ no more song
Metonymy- A dance with mystical wordplay.

Quatrain 1: Autumn: A season where leaves fall from branches. The branches shake because
of the cold winter. The speaker uses this image to describe how he is getting older and losing
his youth, like a tree losing his green leaves.

5 In me thou seest the twilight of such day c - in the speaker she sees a dusk ( time
after the sun has set)

6 As after sunset fadeth in the west, d - Imagery of a sunset Simile: Compares his life
to daytime when twilight is replaced with a sunset

7 Which by and by black night doth take away, c - sunset fades into night time. Black
night Image Alliteration of the b-sound

8 Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest. d -Quatrain two (sunset). Alliteration s-
sound

Death is Personified as having a second self. Compares the speaker’s progress towards death
with the transition from dusk to night. The quicker change- emphasises the speed in which
aging affects the body.

Symbolism: Uses sunset and night to symbolise the end (death)

Imagery

9 In me thou seest the glowing of such fire e - The speaker is saying that in him you
can see a dying fire.

10 That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, f - From a wood log The fire is being
nourished by the wood logs an. Metaphor

11 As deathbed whereon it must expire, e- the fire is about to die and only be ashes
12 Consumed with that which it was nourished by. f - Quatrain three ( fire) A fire that
will soon be extinguished. Literal death, but also figurative (the end of his youth)

13 This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong, g - The mystical art of
Thou and Thy apostrophes.

14 To love that well which thou must leave ere long. g - This tree/sunset/ dying fire make your
love strong. To love someone knowing that it wont be able to last forever. It is limited by
death. Wants the reader to see the value of the time they have. Need to love well because
death is approaching. Alliteration l-sound

Themes

Aging: Explores how it feels to get older and the effect of time on one’s health. A longing for
the years gone by. Also a peace and slower pace after years lived.

Tree in late autumn- advancing age. Yellow leaves that fall and branches that shake show that
the tree isn’t ready for winter. Comparison of the bare branches and the choir shows how the
speaker mourns the loss of his youthful appearance. The absence of birds shows the quiet
and peace that comes with old age.

Death: Twilight fading into darkness shows the last moments the speaker has. Fire
distinguished and turned into ashes, represent a youthful life that is over. Ashes (a beautiful
life that has come to an end)

Couplet: Death helps people to love and cherish each other.

Love: Love can triumph over obstacles but is still limited by death. Love is discussed from the
point of view of the life cycle. Life is not too long. So fall in love as much as possible whilst
you still can.

Tone/ mood:

Pensive and mourning: Sees the fast approaching death

Melancholic: He is aging
Tender

mood: sentimental and sorrowful

Elizabethan sonnet
3 quatrains
rhyming couplet

iambic pentameter