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Literature (V)
Notes
Compiled by
Abdullah Khan
Student of BS English at GDC Samarbagh
“Learning Never Exhausts the mind”
__ Leonardo da Vinci
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 Sonnet :

A sonnet is a one-stanza, 14-line poem, written in iambic pentameter. The sonnet,

which derived from the Italian word sonetto.
A sonnet cycle or sonnet sequence is a group of sonnets, arranged to address a
particular person or theme, and designed to be read both as a collection of fully
realized individual poems and as a single poetic work comprising all the
individual sonnets.
 Types of sonnet :

1. The Petrarchan sonnet :

perfected by the Italian poet Petrarch, divides the 14 lines into two sections: an
eight-line stanza (octave) rhyming ABBAABBA, and a six-line stanza (sestet)
rhyming CDCDCD or CDECDE. ... The octave's rhyme scheme is preserved, but
the sestet rhymes CDDCEE.
 The Petrarchan sonnet is characterized by the following core elements:
 It contains fourteen lines of poetry.
 The lines are divided into an eight-line subsection (called an octave) followed
by a six-line subsection (called a sestet).
 The octave follows a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA.
2. The Shakespearean sonnet :
In terms of structure, a Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines and is written in
iambic pentameter. This means that is has 3 quatrains (4 line sections) and one
heroic couplet. The rhyme scheme, therefore, is abab (quatrain 1), cdcd (quatrain
2), efef (quatrain 3), and gg (heroic couplet).
3. The Spenserian sonnet :

The Spenserian sonnet is a sonnet form named for the poet Edmund Spenser in
16th century. A Spenserian sonnet comprises three interlocked quatrains and a
final couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. The Spenserian
sonnet cribs its structure from the Shakespearean—three quatrains and a
couplet—but employs a series of "couplet links" between quatrains, as revealed
in the rhyme scheme: abab, bcbc, cdcd, ee.
The features of the Spenserian Sonnet are: a quatorzain made up of 3 Sicilian
quatrains (4 lines alternating rhyme) and ending in a rhyming couplet. metric,
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primarily iambic pentameter. rhymed, rhyme scheme ababbcbccdcdee.
 One day I wrote her name (Sonnet 75) Summery and analysis :

 Publication :

Edmund Spenser (1552-1599), one of the greatest Elizabethan English poets, is

well-known for his sonnets. The present sonnet “One day I wrote her name upon
the strand” was published in 1595 in his famous sonnet sequence “Amoretti”.
The present sonnet is sonnet No. 75 in the collection of 88 sonnets. ‘Amoretti’ is
an Italian word meaning ‘little loves’ which refer to the sonnets so dear to the
poet.
 Background :

All 88 sonnets in Edmund Spenser’s sonnet cycle ‘Amoretti’ are love sonnets.
The lady in question was Elizabeth Boyle, a pretty Irish woman, with whom
Spenser was in a relationship and they later married. The present sonnet depicts
Spenser’s courtship of Boyle, which took place over the course of 3 months in
the spring of 1594.
Also, Spenser belongs to the Elizabethan age. He wrote this during the English
renaissance, a time when English poets followed the classical languages and
ideals while also playing with new forms and techniques.
 Setting :

The poem “One Day I Wrote her Name” presents a dramatic setting. The vast sea
serves as a background here. There are two lonely lovers who enact their story of
love. The absolute loneliness is pierced by the presence of the two human beings.
There are high waves tormenting them by washing the name of the ladylove the
speaker writes on the sand. They are talking to each other and they are talking of
love.
 Form :

As already mentioned, Spenser’s “One Day I Wrote her Name” is a sonnet, a 14-
lines poem generally written in iambic pentameter and with a particular rhyme
scheme.
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 Meter and Rhyme :

Amoretti Sonnet 75 is a traditional Spenserian sonnet, a mix of English and

Italian sonnet forms.
Outwardly his sonnet can be divided into two sections – the octave (first eight
lines) and the sestet (last six lines) like the Italian (Petrarchan) sonnets. In fact,
the Volta (turn) here comes in line 9. The problem presented in the octave is that
the speaker’s beloved is mortal, and the sextet tries to find a resolution.
Again, like the English (Shakespearean) sonnets, it can be broken into three
quatrains (four-line stanza) followed by a rhymed couplet (two rhyming lines).
The quatrains here follow an interwoven pattern. The rhyme scheme is ABAB
BCBC CDCD EE.

 Themes :
1. Immortalizing power of poetry :

In the sonnet “One Day I Wrote her Name”, Edmund Spenser presents poetry as
a means of immortalizing his beloved and her rare virtues.

2. Love :

Like all other Amoretti sonnets, the present one is also a love poem. We see the
speaker getting romantic in his ladylove’s presence and writing her name on the
sand. When it is proved to be a vain attempt, he finds a far better idea to
immortalize her. He vows to write her in his verse as a means to eternalize her.

3. Imortatilty :

Immortality is definitely a major theme in Spenser’s poem “One Day I Wrote her
Name”. The mortal nature of human beings and all other things in the world
makes the speaker worried. That is why he is in the lookout for a way out to
immortalize his mistress and their love.

 Symbols :
1. The tide / Waves :

The waves or tides in the poem “One Day I Wrote her Name” symbolize the
passing of time. Just as the waves erase the evidence of the speaker’s writing by
washing the shoreline, time also destroys human beings and erases their identity.
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2. The Name :

The speaker writes his mistress’s name on the shore but the waves wash it away
twice. This reminds the lady that she too will be erased from this world like her
name getting washed away. The name becomes a symbol for the beloved herself.

 One day I wrote her name literary devices :

1. Assonance :
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. A few examples
from the poem are ;

But came the waves and washed it away .

But came the tide , and made my pains his prey .

“Vain man ,” said she “that dost n vain assay.”

2. Consonance :

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words. Here are

some examples from the poem.

But came the waves and washed it away:

Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

3. Alliteration :

Alliteration is a sub-category of consonance. It is the repetition of consonant

sounds in the beginning (or, stressed syllables) of nearby words. Take some
examples;

But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,

Our love shall live, and later life renew.

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4. Simile :

A simile is a direct comparison between two different things generally using ‘as’
or ‘like’.

For I myself shall like to this decay,

And eke my name be wiped out likewise.”

In the above extract, the speaker’s beloved compares herself to her name
written on the shore. She will be erased from this world just as the writing
is getting washed away. Similarly, her name will be removed from the
world altogether with her death. These comparisons are made directly using
‘like’ and ‘likewise’. These are examples of simile in the poem.

5. Personification :

Personification is the attribution of human qualities to non-human things.

But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

In the above line, tide has been personified. It has been treated as a hungry hunter
who is hunting as a ‘prey’ the speaker’s writing on the sand. The poet also uses
the pronoun ‘his’ to make the personification clear.

 Summary :

- Lines 1 - 2

“One day I wrote her name upon the strand .

But came the waves and washed it away.”

As the poem begins with “One day”, it seems that the speaker is recalling some
past events of his life. That day he wrote her beloved’s name upon the sandy
shore (strand) of the sea. But the waves came and erased the name he wrote.

- Lines 3-4

Again I wrote it with a second hand.

But came the tide , and made my pains is prey.

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As expected, the speaker wrote his girlfriend’s name for the second time. The
words ‘second hand’ here imply ‘second handwriting’. But the result was just the
same. Again, the high tide came and affected it.

The tide is personified. He (the tide) made the speaker’s labour (pains) of writing
his prey. So, the name of the speaker’s ladylove on the sand becomes an object of
hunting to the tide. We thus see the hungry tide on one hand and the speaker’s
efforts to write his beloved’s name on the other. In the end, nature wins over man.

- Lines 5-8

“Vain man ,”said she , “that dost in vain assay.

A mortal thing so to immortalize ;

For I myself shall like to this decay,

And eke my name he wiped out likewise ,”

From this point, the poem turns into the conversational tone. And we were right.
The speaker’s ladylove is with him on the shore, and she now speaks for the first
time. This is actually rare to have a conversation in the middle of a short poem
like a sonnet though.
She calls the speaker a proud (vain) man. She tells him that he is making useless
attempt (vain assay) to immortalize a mortal thing.
She then emphasizes her mortal nature. One day she will disappear (decay) from
this world just as her name was removed from the beach. And, with her death,
her name will also (eke) be erased (wiped out) forever from this world. Nobody
will remember her name after her decease. So, it is a futile attempt to write her
name because she, like the words on the sand, is subject to decay.

- Lines 9-10

“Not so .” (quod I) “ let baser things devise

To die in dust , but you shall live by fame ;

Now, the speaker replies to his ladylove’s statement. His answer is negative. He
says that such a thing will not happen. According to the lover, inferior (baser)
things may plan (devise) to disappear (die in dust), but his beloved will live
through fame, i.e., in stories, in people’s hearts.
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Here we get the classical volta (a turn in the subject or tone). So far, the poem
has been all about mortality. We thought nothing can live forever. But now we
hear that some things can. Let’s see how.

- Lines 11-12

My verse your virtues rare shall live eternize,

And in the heavens write your glorious name:

The speaker here vows to eternalize his mistress’s rare qualities (virtues) in his
poetry (verse). He will write such poems in praise of her goodness that she will
live in the readers’ minds and that will basically immortalize her. According to
the speaker, that will be synonymous to writing her glorious name in the heavens.

- Lines 13-14

Where whenas death shall all the world subdue ,

Our love shall live , and later life renew .”

The lover will write his beloved’s splendid name in the poetic firmament. When
death shall gain control over all the world, it will be unable to do any harm to his
verse. His verse will live on to remind others of their pure, unparalleled and ideal
love. It will later inspire life, inspire all succeeding lovers.

The speaker seems to be overconfident about the prospects of his poetry. But, in
reality, we are here reading Spenser’s poem now and analyzing it. We are
thinking about the poet and his beloved. Thus, their love has truly reached the
height of immortality through his poetry.

 Conclusion :

Through his use of poetic techniques, Spenser succeeds at his experiment with
literature. The surface narrative of the sonnet is about a lover expressing his love
for a woman, however, the poem is actually about the contradiction between
mortality and immortality - permanence and temporariness. The poem
encapsulates the power of language in the sense that master poets have the ability
to manipulate the English language in such a way that enables them to make
grand assertions about life's most important questions in such short and beautiful
lines. Even with the limitations of the human conditions, Spenser proves that
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poetry has the capacity to make one immortal. In short, it is one of the most
famous sonnets Spenser ever wrote.

 Sonnet 79 “Men call you fair” : (by Edmund Spenser)

 Analysis :

1. Theme of beauty :

The sonnet explores the theme of beauty, both in its physical and inner
dimensions. The speaker observes that others acknowledge the beloved's external
beauty ("Men call you fair"), but he is concerned that she may not fully
appreciate her inner qualities.

2. Contrast between outer and inner beauty :

The poem contrasts the external beauty that is readily acknowledged by others
("Men call you fair") with the speaker's desire for the beloved to recognize her
inner virtues. This suggests a deeper, more meaningful kind of beauty that goes
beyond mere physical appearance.

3. Expression of Love :

The speaker's concern for the beloved's self-awareness and appreciation of her
inner qualities reflects a deeper emotional connection.

4. Use of Petrarchan sonnet structure :

Spenser employs the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet structure, consisting of an

octave (eight lines) followed by a sestet (six lines). The octave often sets up a
situation or problem, while the sestet provides a resolution or reflection.

5. Imagery :

The sonnet uses imagery to depict the beloved's external beauty ("Men call you
fair") and suggests a sense of modesty or lack of self-awareness.

6. Rhetorical devices :
Spenser uses rhetorical devices, such as direct address to the beloved ("Sweet"),
to create a personal and intimate tone. The repetition of "fair" emphasizes the
external perception of beauty.
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7. Exploration of subjectivity :

The sonnet delves into the subjective nature of beauty and the idea that true
beauty is not solely determined by societal standards but includes an individual's
inner qualities. This adds depth to the poem's exploration of the beloved's self-
perception.

 Shakespeare”s Sonnet 18 :

 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day Critical appreciation :

This is one of best sonnets of Shakespeare. It is addressed to a young friend of
the poet. Here the poet celebrates the beauty of his friend. The tradition of
praising masculine beauty in verse was derived from Greek and Latin poetry and
it became a fashion in English poetry after ‘The Renaissance’. The poet contrasts
the ideal beauty of platonic conception embodied in his friend with the transient
beauty of nature. The poet thinks that poetry is eternal and poetry will
immortalize the beauty of his friend.
The sonnet shows a greatly enhanced sensibility and control. The rose metaphor
is cleverly humanized in the phrase, “darling buds of May”. Summer’s lease adds
concept of property so that it’s association with flowers seems inevitable. The
eye of heaven introduces the correspondence between personality and the higher
spheres with equal case. The eternal summer will be created by the poet’s eternal
lines in his poems. Even death will not be able to make him its victim. The poet
will celebrate the beauty of his friend in his writing. All future remain will read
about him and thus the beauty of his friend will be eternal.

 Structure and form :

 The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, consisting
of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
 The three quatrains pose the question of comparison, explore the inadequacy
of various natural elements, and finally, highlight the lasting beauty of the
subject.
 The concluding rhymed couplet provides a resolution or twist to the theme.
 Theme :
 The central theme revolves around the immortality of poetry and love. The
speaker grapples with the challenge of finding suitable comparisons in nature
but concludes that the beauty of the beloved transcends the fleeting qualities
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of summer.
 The poem suggests that through the act of writing, the poet can preserve and
immortalize the beauty of the beloved, ensuring it lasts beyond the limitations
of time.
 Tone :
The tone of the poem is one of admiration and contemplation. The speaker is
reflective and contemplative as they consider the beauty of the beloved.
 Timelessness :
The sonnet goes on to assert that the beloved's beauty will not fade with time,
contrasting with the transient nature of summer. This introduces the theme of
immortality through poetry.
 Metopher :
The line begins with a rhetorical question that sets the tone for the entire sonnet.
The poet contemplates whether to compare the person addressed to a summer's
day. This serves as a metaphor for the beloved's beauty and positive attributes.
 Seasonal symbolism :
Summer is traditionally associated with warmth, brightness, and beauty. By
choosing summer as the point of comparison, Shakespeare elevates the beloved's
qualities to the highest standard of natural beauty.
 Literary figures :
1. Metopher :
The entire sonnet is essentially one extended metaphor. The beloved is not
literally a summer's day, but the comparison allows the poet to explore the
timeless and enduring nature of the beloved's beauty.
2. Personification :
Nature is personified as the beloved, ascribing human-like qualities to the
summer's day. This personification allows the poet to explore the complexities of
the beloved's beauty.
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3. Imagery :
The poet creates vivid imagery of a summer's day, prompting readers to visualize
and feel the warmth and beauty associated with it. This imagery adds depth to the
comparison and enhances the emotional impact of the sonnet.

 Sonnet 65 :
 Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea :
 Structure and form :

The sonnet follows the typical Shakespearean or Elizabethan sonnet structure,

consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. The poem
is written in iambic pentameter.
 Central Theme :
1. Time and decay :

The central theme is the inevitable decay and deterioration that time imposes on
everything.
2. Immortality through verse :

The poet contemplates the notion of achieving a form of immortality through his
poetry.
 Literary devices :
1. Alliteration :

 "Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,"

 The repetition of the "s" sound in this line is an example of alliteration.
Alliteration can contribute to the musicality of a poem and can emphasize
certain words or ideas.
2. Symbolism :

The various elements mentioned in the poem, such as brass, stone, earth, and the
boundless sea, symbolize enduring and seemingly indestructible aspects of the
physical world.
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 Analysis :

 Lines 1-4 :
 “Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,
But sad mortality o’ersways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?”

In the first four lines of ‘Sonnet 65,’ the speaker begins by returning to
the subject matter .He acknowledges in lines one and two that everything is at the
mercy of time. This includes “brass,” “stone,” “earth” and the “boundless” or
limitless, “sea”. There is nothing that’s strong enough to resist the “sad mortality”.
If these things few quite strong forces can’t fight back against time, then
what chance does “beauty” have in the face of such power? Beauty, he says, is
“no stronger than a flower”.

 Lines 5-8 :
 “O how shall summer’s honey breath hold out
Against the wrackful siege of batt’ring days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong but time decays?”

He asks a rhetorical question in the second quatrain, another technique that is

quite commonly used within Shakespeare’s sonnets. He wonders how the youth’s
beauty (what he refers to as “summer’s honey breath) will be able to stand up
against the “wrackful siege of batt’ring days”. The chances of the youth winning
out seem entirely impossible as the “gates of steel” and the “rocks” are unable to
withstand time.

 Lines 9-14 :
“O fearful meditation! Where, alack,
Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?
Or who his spoil or beauty can forbid?
O none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.”
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In the third and final quatrain of ‘Sonnet 65,’ the speaker explains over this
possibility. It’s terrifying to him, as he stated in the previous sonnets, to consider
what time is going to do to his beloved. He wonders where he hides the youth’s
beauty so that time can’t reach it. It is a creation of time, but one like all other
creations, that time is coming to destroy.
He asks several other questions in this quatrain while considering who has the
ability to guard against age and the destruction of beauty. The answer t these
questions comes in the final two lines, another common feature of Shakespeare’s
works. He provides an answer to a problem in the couplet.
With the turn, it becomes clear that no one is going to be able to stand up against
time. There is truly only one possibility, that the speaker preserves the youth’s
beauty within his writing.

 Analysis :

1. Winter :
Winter is used to represent the cold and barren emotional state caused by the
speaker's absence. This metaphor emphasizes the harshness and desolation felt
during the period of separation.
2. The power of presence :

The speaker expresses the hope that his return will have a thawing effect on the
emotional "winter." There's a suggestion that the speaker's physical presence has
a warming and comforting influence, bringing life and vitality to what was once
cold and lifeless.
3. Time and absence :

The sonnet also touches upon the theme of the passage of time and its effect on
relationships. The winter metaphor implies a prolonged period of absence, and
the speaker reflects on how time spent away has felt like a bitter and unyielding
season.
4. Resolution and hope :

The concluding lines express a sense of resolution and optimism. The speaker
looks forward to ending the metaphorical winter, anticipating the positive change
that his return will bring to the emotional landscape.
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 sonnet 106 "When in the chronicle of wasted time" :

 Stanza 1 :

“When in the chronicle of wasted time

I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme
In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights,”

The speaker begins by contemplating a historical record ("chronicle of wasted

time") that details the descriptions of the most beautiful individuals. These
descriptions are often found in old poetry that praises both deceased ladies and
valiant knights.

 Stanza 2 :

“Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty’s best,

Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,
I see their antique pen would have express’d
Even such a beauty as you master now.”

The speaker examines the detailed praises of beauty in this historical record
("blazon of sweet beauty’s best"). The speaker notes that the poets of the past,
with their ancient pens, sought to describe a beauty that is comparable to the
beauty possessed by the current beloved.

 Stanza 3 :

“So all their praises are but prophecies

Of this our time, all you prefiguring;
And, for they look’d but with divining eyes,
They had not skill enough your worth to sing”

The speaker interprets the praises in the historical record as prophecies of the
speaker's own time. The poets of the past, lacking the skill to adequately describe
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the current beauty, could only offer glimpses through their prophetic verses

 Stanza 4 :

“For we, which now behold these present days,

Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.”

The speaker concludes that those who live in the present (including the speaker)
have the privilege of witnessing the beauty of the current time. However, despite
having the ability to appreciate this beauty, they lack the words to adequately
praise or describe it.

 Analysis :

1. Theme of immortality through poetry :

The central theme revolves around the poet's belief in the enduring power of
poetry to transcend time. The speaker is conscious of the transient nature of life
and the inevitable decay of all things but finds solace in the idea that his verses
can preserve the beauty of the beloved.

2. Chronicle of wasted time :

The phrase "chronicle of wasted time" suggests the recording of moments lost to
the passage of time. The speaker acknowledges that time erodes everything,
creating a chronicle of the inevitable decay of beauty and love.

3. Art is a time defying force :

The sonnet celebrates the ability of art, specifically poetry, to resist the
destructive force of time. The poet believes that the verses he creates will act as a
timeless record, ensuring that the beauty of the beloved is not lost to the ravages
of temporal decay.

4. Rhetorical flourish :

The sonnet employs rhetorical devices and elaborate language, characteristic of

Shakespearean sonnets. The intricate use of language enhances the emotional
impact of the speaker's reflections on time and the potential immortality of love
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through poetry.

 Sonnet 116 “Let me not to the marriage of true minds” :

Sonnet 116, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds," explores the enduring
nature of true love and the steadfastness of genuine commitment. The speaker
begins by stating that true love does not waver or change, even when faced with
difficulties. Love, according to the speaker, is an unchanging beacon that guides
individuals through storms and trials. The sonnet concludes by boldly asserting
that if the speaker's observations are proven false, then he has never written, and
no one has ever truly loved.

 Analysis :
1. Theme of true love :

The central theme of the sonnet is the constancy and immutability of true love.
The speaker sets out to define the nature of love that exists between "true minds,"
emphasizing its unwavering and timeless quality.

2. Metaphor of marriage :

The metaphor of the "marriage of true minds" is used to represent a profound,

spiritual connection between individuals. It's not limited to the institution of
marriage but extends to a deeper, enduring bond of the soul.

3. Navigating life’s challenge :

The speaker asserts that true love remains steadfast even in the face of adversity.
The "tempests" mentioned in the sonnet symbolize life's challenges and
difficulties, and yet true love remains a guiding star, unaffected by external
circumstances.

4. Universal and timeless nature :

The universality of the sonnet is emphasized by its assertion that true love is not
subject to time. The speaker believes that this definition of love applies to every
time and place, making it a timeless and universal truth.
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5. Final assertion :

The concluding lines make a bold and confident statement, almost as a challenge
to anyone who would dispute the constancy of true love. If the speaker's
observations are proven false, then he claims to have never written, and no one
has ever truly loved.

 Literary devices :
1. Metaphor :

The entire sonnet can be seen as a metaphor for the idea of a lasting and genuine
love. The "marriage of true minds" serves as a metaphor for a deep and
committed emotional connection.

2. Alliteration :

"Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds" - The repetition of the
"L" sound in these lines creates a musical and rhythmic quality, emphasizing the
constancy of love.

3. Repetition :
The repetition of the word "love" throughout the sonnet serves to emphasize the
central theme and reinforce the speaker's argument about the unchanging nature
of true love.

4. Imagery :
The sonnet uses vivid imagery to depict the transient nature of physical beauty
("rosy lips and cheeks") and the enduring quality of true love ("an ever-fixed
mark").

5. Iambic pentameter :
The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, a poetic meter that consists of ten
syllables per line with alternating stress patterns. This rhythmic structure adds a
musical quality to the poem.
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 Summary :

 Stanza 1 :
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:”

The speaker begins by asserting that he will not allow anything to obstruct the
union of true minds in marriage. Real love, the speaker argues, does not change
when faced with alterations or challenges; it remains steadfast and resists efforts
to diminish it.

 Stanza 2 :
“O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.”

The speaker emphatically states that true love is a constant and unchanging
reference point, like a navigational star that remains unwavering even in the face
of storms. The true worth of love is immeasurable, much like the height of a star
that can be observed but not truly known.

 Stanza 3 :
“Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.”

The speaker asserts that love is not subject to the passage of time, even though
the physical beauty of rosy lips and cheeks may succumb to the inevitability of
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aging. Love endures beyond the short duration of time, persisting until the very
end of existence.

 Stanza 4 :
“If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”

The speaker concludes by challenging anyone to prove him wrong in his

assertions about love. If he is mistaken, then he declares that he has never written
(crafted poetry), and no man has ever truly experienced love.

 The Solitary Reaper :

"The Solitary Reaper" is a poem by William Wordsworth that was first published
in 1807. It reflects the Romantic emphasis on the power of nature, the
individual's emotional response to it, and the idea that everyday people and
experiences can hold profound meaning.

 Nature and its impact :

1. Setting and scene :

The poem is set in the Scottish Highlands, a region known for its natural beauty.
The poet describes a solitary reaper in the field, harvesting her crops and singing
as she works.

2. Impact of nature on the speaker :

The beauty of the landscape and the woman's song have a profound effect on the
speaker. The simplicity of the scene evokes deep emotions and leaves a lasting
impression.

 The Solitary Reaper :

1. Loneliness and isolation :

The title character, the solitary reaper, is alone in the field. This solitude
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emphasizes the isolation often associated with rural life and contributes to the
overall theme of individual experience.

2. Symbolism of the Reaper :

The reaper becomes a symbol not only of labor but also of the continuity of life.
Her singing is a personal expression of her work, and it resonates with the larger
themes of human existence The reaper becomes a symbol not only of labor but
also of the continuity of life. Her singing is a personal expression of her work,
and it resonates with the larger themes of human existence.

 The Power of song :

1. Emotional impact of the song :

The woman's song is in a language that the speaker cannot understand, but its
emotional impact is universal. The melody is haunting and stays with the speaker,
leaving a lasting impression.

2. Connection of the nature :

The reaper's song is seen as a natural expression, harmonizing with the landscape.
It becomes an integral part of the natural world, emphasizing the connection
between human emotion and the environment.

 Individual experience :
1. Subjectivity and personal response :

The poem emphasizes the subjective and personal nature of the emotional
response to the scene. Each individual can interpret and feel the impact of nature
and human expression differently.

2. Memory and reflection :

The poem is presented as a recollection, indicating that the experience had a

lasting impact on the speaker. It suggests that certain moments in nature can be
etched into memory and revisited in reflection.
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 Summary :

Stanza 1 :

“Behold her, single in the field,

Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.”

The poem begins with the speaker recounting a scene where he observes a
solitary reaper in a Scottish field. She is cutting and binding grain, and as she
works, she sings a song that fills the air with a "melancholy strain." The speaker
is captivated by the beauty and sadness of her song.

Stanza 2 :

“No Nightingale did ever chaunt

More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides”

The speaker acknowledges that he cannot understand the specific words of her
song since it's in Gaelic, but he notes that the tune and the tone of her voice
convey a deep and powerful emotion. Her song is described as having a lasting
impact, echoing through the valley and captivating the surrounding landscape
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Stanza 3 :

“Will no one tell me what she sings?

—Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?”
The speaker reflects on the universality of the language of the song, even though
he can't comprehend its specific meaning. He imagines that the song might be
about old, unhappy things or battles fought long ago. The reaper's song becomes
a timeless and evocative expression of human emotion.

Stanza 4 :

“Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;
—I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.”

The poem concludes with the speaker acknowledging the powerful and lasting
effect of the reaper's song. He suggests that the memory of her song will continue
to haunt him, even after he has left the scene. The image of the solitary reaper
and the sound of her song become a lasting memory for the speaker.

 Litrary devices :

1. Alliteration :

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, as in "Behold her,

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single in the field" and "Breaking the silence of the seas."

2. Imagery :

Wordsworth employs vivid imagery to create a detailed picture of the scene, such
as "vale," "glen," "Cumbrian hills," and "old, unhappy, far-off things.

3. Metaphor :
The poem is filled with metaphors that enhance the reader's understanding, like
the reaper's song being a "melancholy strain" that "passed into my soul."

4. Simile :

The poet uses similes to compare the reaper's song to that of a nightingale and a
cuckoo, adding depth to the auditory experience.

5. Personification :

The poet personifies the "western wave" whispering to the reaper, giving human-
like qualities to nature.

6. Rythm and meter :

- The poem is written in quatrains with a regular iambic tetrameter, contributing
to a rhythmic and melodic flow that mirrors the natural cadence of the reaper's
song.

7. Symbolism :

- The solitary reaper herself can be seen as a symbol of the timeless, solitary
labor of rural life. Her song symbolizes a connection to nature and the past.