Sonnet 71 by William Shakespeare | The Triumph of Death | No longer mourn for me when I am dead | William Shakespeare | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
Sonnet 71
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
[The Triumph of Death]
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell;
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so,
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot,
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if (I say) you look upon this verse,
When I (perhaps) compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse,
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan,
And mock you with me after I am gone.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
Line 1: No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Explanation
The speaker starts by directly addressing the beloved and asking them not to grieve excessively for him after his death.
Line 2: Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Explanation
He describes the church bell tolling for his death as “sullen” and “sullen,” suggesting its somber and unpleasant sound.
Line 3: Give warning to the world that I am fled
Explanation
The bell’s ringing serves as a public announcement of the speaker’s death.
Line 4: From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell;
Explanation
The speaker describes the world as “vile” and his burial place as being among “vilest worms,” emphasizing the unpleasantness of death and decay.
Line 5: Nay, if you read this line, remember not
Explanation
The speaker takes a step further and asks the beloved not to even remember him after reading his words.
Line 6: The hand that writ it; for I love you so,
Explanation
He justifies his request by emphasizing his deep love for the beloved.
Line 7: That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot,
Explanation
He expresses his desire to be erased from the beloved’s memory if it would cause them pain.
Line 8: If thinking on me then should make you woe.
Explanation
He clarifies his reason for wanting to be forgotten – to avoid causing the beloved any sorrow.
Line 9: O, if (I say) you look upon this verse,
Explanation
He repeats his request and offers a hypothetical scenario where the beloved might read his words.
Line 10: When I (perhaps) compounded am with clay,
Explanation
The speaker imagines himself being buried and becoming one with the earth.
Line 11: Do not so much as my poor name rehearse,
Explanation
He further emphasizes his desire to be forgotten and asks the beloved not to even mention his name.
Line 12: But let your love even with my life decay,
Explanation
He expresses a willingness for the beloved’s love for him to fade away with his life.
Line 13: Lest the wise world should look into your moan,
Explanation
He expresses concern about the world’s perception and fear of them mocking the beloved’s grief.
Line 14: And mock you with me after I am gone.
Explanation
The speaker ends by reiterating his fear of the world’s mockery.
Summary
In William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71, “No longer mourn for me when I am dead,” the speaker addresses their beloved, asking them not to grieve excessively after their death. They describe their final resting place as a “vile world” with “vilest worms,” emphasizing the unpleasantness of death.
The speaker’s primary concern lies in the beloved’s well-being. They express a selfless desire to be forgotten if remembering them would cause the beloved pain. They even ask the beloved to forget the hand that wrote the poem and to let their love for them decay alongside their life, fearing the world’s potential mockery of the beloved’s grief.
Through its evocative imagery and masterful use of poetic devices, the poem explores themes of love, death, memory, and selflessness. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and its ability to transcend the boundaries of life and death.
Key Points
Author: William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the most important English-language writers. His plays and poems are read all over the world.
Form: Sonnet 71 is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that is contained within one stanza. The form that has become synonymous with the poet’s name. The English or Shakespearean sonnet is made up of three quatrains, or sets of four lines, and one concluding couplet, or set of two rhyming lines.
Speaker: The speaker of the sonnet is a character who is contemplating their own mortality and the impact of their death on a loved one. This character could be a representation of Shakespeare himself, or a fictional persona.
Setting: The setting isn’t specified in the sonnet, but it’s clear that the speaker is contemplating death and its aftermath.
Theme: The poem’s central theme lies in the speaker’s profound love for the beloved and his concern for their well-being even after his death. Additionally, the poem explores the inevitability of death and the challenges of coping with loss.
Plot: The sonnet starts with the speaker asking their loved one not to mourn for them after they are dead. They ask their loved one to forget them, and not to remember the hand that wrote the lines of the sonnet. The speaker expresses a desire to be forgotten if their memory would cause their loved one sorrow. They ask their loved one not to mention their name after they are gone, and to let their love decay with their life.
Tone: The tone of the sonnet is somber and reflective, with the speaker contemplating death and its impact on a loved one.
Style: Shakespeare’s style in this sonnet, as in many of his works, is characterized by rich imagery, metaphor, and tightly woven logic. For example, he uses the metaphor of a bell giving warning to the world that the speaker has fled to dwell with the vilest worms.
Message: The message of the sonnet is that love is so powerful that it can lead one to prefer oblivion over causing a loved one sorrow. The poem suggests that true love transcends death, but it also acknowledges the pain of loss and the importance of letting go.
Structure and Rhyme Scheme
Structure
The structure of Sonnet 71 follows the typical structure of a Shakespearean sonnet. It is composed of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The quatrains often introduce a problem or question, while the couplet provides a resolution or answer.
Rhyme Scheme
The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme with each other (A and C, D and F), as do the second and fourth lines (B and D, E and G). The final couplet (GG) also rhymes.
In the case of Sonnet 71, the rhyme scheme would look like this:
No longer mourn for me when I am dead (A)
Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell (B)
Give warning to the world that I am fled (A)
From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell; (B)
Nay, if you read this line, remember not ©
The hand that writ it; for I love you so, (D)
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot, ©
If thinking on me then should make you woe. (D)
O, if (I say) you look upon this verse, (E)
When I (perhaps) compounded am with clay, (F)
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse, (E)
But let your love even with my life decay, (F)
Lest the wise world should look into your moan, (G)
And mock you with me after I am gone. (G)
This structure and rhyme scheme are characteristic of Shakespeare’s sonnets and are part of what gives them their musicality and emotional impact.
Word Meaning
| Line | Tough Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
| 1 | mourn | grieve for someone who has died | शोक करना |
| 2 | surly | bad-tempered and unfriendly | उदास |
| 2 | sullen | gloomy and silent | उदास |
| 3 | fled | left quickly and secretly | भाग गया |
| 4 | vile | extremely unpleasant or bad | घृणित |
| 4 | worms | small soft-bodied animals that live in the soil | कीड़े |
| 4 | dwell | Stay/live | बसना |
| 5 | nay | no | नहीं |
| 6 | writ | wrote | लिखा |
| 8 | woe | sorrow or grief | दुःख |
| 9 | verse | A line or group of lines of poetry. | पद्य |
| 10 | compounded | mixed together | मिश्रित |
| 10 | clay | soil | मिट्टी |
| 11 | rehearse | repeat something out loud in order to learn it | दोहराना |
| 12 | decay | to gradually become worse or weaker / Decomposition | क्षय |
| 13 | lest | Used to express a fear or warning that something may happen. | कहीं ऐसा न हो |
| 13 | moan | A low, sad sound made by someone who is in pain or grief. | विलाप |
| 14 | mock | To laugh at or ridicule someone in a cruel way. | मजाक उड़ाना |
Very Short Answer Questions
What does the speaker ask the beloved not to do when he dies?
Mourn for him.
What is the sound of the bell described as?
Sullen and surly.
What does the bell announce?
The speaker’s death.
Where does the speaker imagine himself going after death?
To dwell with worms in the earth.
What does the speaker ask the beloved to forget?
The hand that wrote the poem.
Why does the speaker want to be forgotten?
Because he loves the beloved and doesn’t want them to be sad.
What does the speaker ask the beloved not to do even if they read the poem?
Remember him.
When does the speaker imagine the beloved reading the poem?
When he is dead and buried.
What does the speaker ask the beloved not to do with his name?
Rehearse it.
What does the speaker want to happen to the beloved’s love for him?
To decay with his life.
Why does the speaker want the beloved’s love to decay?
To avoid the world mocking them.
What does the speaker fear the world will do if the beloved mourns him?
Mock them and him.
What is the speaker’s primary concern throughout the poem?
The beloved’s well-being after his death.
What literary device is used in line 1?
Direct address.
What literary device is used in line 4?
Metaphor.
What literary device is used in line 5?
Enjambment.
What literary device is used in line 13?
Conditional clause.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
What is the meter of the poem?
Iambic pentameter.
Who is the author of the poem?
William Shakespeare.
What is the speaker’s request regarding mourning in the poem?
The speaker asks not to mourn for him when he is dead.
What does the bell symbolize in the poem?
The tolling bell symbolizes the announcement of the speaker’s death.
What does the speaker mean by “vilest worms” in line 4?
It symbolizes death and decay.
Why does the speaker ask not to remember the hand that wrote the poem?
The speaker wants to be forgotten to spare the reader sorrow.
What does the speaker want to happen to his name after his death?
The speaker wants his name to be not mentioned after his death.
What does the speaker prefer over being remembered with sorrow?
The speaker prefers to be forgotten in the lover’s sweet thoughts.
What is the speaker’s attitude towards death in the poem?
The speaker accepts death and urges the beloved not to grieve excessively.
What is the significance of the phrase “compounded am with clay” in line 10?
It refers to the speaker’s body returning to the earth after death.
Why does the speaker ask not to rehearse his poor name?
The speaker wants to spare the beloved from the pain of remembering him.
What does the speaker suggest about the decay of love?
The speaker suggests that love should decay along with his life.
Why does the speaker fear the wise world looking into the mourner’s moan?
The speaker fears mockery and scrutiny from the wise world.
What is the central theme of Sonnet 71?
The poem’s central theme lies in the speaker’s profound love for the beloved and his concern for their well-being even after his death.
Short Answer Questions
How does the speaker describe his death in the first four lines?
The speaker describes his death as a departure from this “vile world” to dwell with “vilest worms,” emphasizing the unpleasantness of his final resting place.
What does the speaker ask the beloved to do about the hand that wrote the poem?
The speaker asks the beloved to forget the hand that wrote the poem, stating that his love for them is so great he would rather be forgotten than cause them sadness.
Why does the speaker not want the beloved to remember him?
The speaker fears that remembering him would cause the beloved pain and grief, and he desires their happiness above all else.
On what condition does the speaker permit the beloved to remember him?
The speaker offers a hypothetical scenario where the beloved might read his words after he is gone, but only if it does not bring them sorrow.
What specific request does the speaker make regarding his name?
The speaker explicitly asks the beloved not to even rehearse his name, demonstrating his desire for complete erasure from their memory.
What does the speaker desire to happen to the beloved’s love for him?
The speaker desires the beloved’s love for him to decay along with his life, believing this will be the least painful outcome for them.
What does the speaker fear will happen if the beloved mourns him excessively?
The speaker fears that the world will judge and mock the beloved for their grief, causing them further pain and humiliation.
What does the poem reveal about the speaker’s character?
The poem reveals the speaker’s selfless and loving nature. He prioritizes the beloved’s happiness above his own desires, even in the face of death.
What is the poem’s overall tone?
The poem’s overall tone is somber and reflective, with a touch of melancholy and resignation.
What literary device is used in lines 5 and 6?
Enjambment is used in lines 5 and 6, where the sentence continues across the line break, creating a sense of urgency and flow.
What literary device is used in lines 7 and 8?
Inversion is used in lines 7 and 8, where the sentence structure is reversed from normal order (“That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot, / If thinking on me then should make you woe”).
What type of poem is this?
This is a Shakespearean sonnet, a form of poem with 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG).
What is the poem’s message about love and death?
The poem suggests that true love transcends death, but it also acknowledges the pain of loss and the importance of letting go.
What is the poem’s relevance to the human experience?
The poem explores universal themes of love, death, grief, and memory, making it relatable to anyone who has ever experienced loss.
What is your interpretation of the poem’s ending line?
The ending line, “And mock you with me after I am gone,” can be interpreted as a reminder of the cruelty and judgment of the world, or it can be seen as a final plea from the speaker to protect the beloved from potential harm.
Essay Type Questions
1. Write the critical appreciation of the poem.
Introduction
Sonnet 71, “No longer mourn for me when I am dead,” is a profound and introspective work by William Shakespeare. It explores themes of mortality, love, and the impact of one’s death on loved ones. The speaker in the poem asks their loved one not to mourn for them or remember them after they have passed away, for fear that their memory might cause sorrow.
Structure, Form, and Rhyme Scheme
Sonnet 71 adheres to the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet. It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet, forming a 14-line poem. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG, a pattern characteristic of Shakespearean sonnets. This structure contributes to the sonnet’s musicality and emotional impact.
Theme
The primary theme of Sonnet 71 is the transience of life and the enduring power of love. Despite the inevitability of death, the speaker’s love for the addressee is so strong that they would rather be forgotten than cause them sorrow. This theme is explored through the speaker’s contemplation of their own mortality and the impact of their death on a loved one.
Imagery
Shakespeare employs rich and evocative imagery in Sonnet 71. The speaker’s contemplation of death is conveyed through images of a surly sullen bell giving warning to the world, and the speaker fleeing to dwell with vilest worms. The speaker’s desire to be forgotten is expressed through the image of their love decaying with their life.
Poetic Devices
Shakespeare uses various poetic devices in Sonnet 71. Metaphor is used extensively, such as comparing the speaker’s death to a bell giving warning to the world, and the speaker dwelling with worms. Alliteration is present in phrases like “mourn for me,” adding a musical quality to the sonnet. The sonnet also features anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines, as seen in the repeated use of “No longer” at the start of the sonnet.
Conclusion
Sonnet 71 is a powerful exploration of mortality, love, and the desire to protect loved ones from suffering. Through its structured form, evocative imagery, and effective use of poetic devices, it captures the speaker’s emotional journey from life to death, and their desire to spare their loved one from sorrow. It serves as a reminder of the transience of life, the enduring power of love, and the selflessness that love can inspire. This sonnet is a testament to Shakespeare’s ability to capture the complexities of human emotion in just 14 lines.
2. Write long note on Poetic devices used in Poem.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71, “No longer mourn for me when I am dead,” is a testament to the enduring power of love and its ability to transcend the boundaries of life and death. This analysis delves into the specific poetic devices employed in the sonnet and explores their impact on its meaning and effect.
1. Direct Address:
The poem opens with a direct address to the beloved, “No longer mourn for me when I am dead,” immediately establishing an intimate and personal tone. This address continues throughout the poem, drawing the reader into the speaker’s emotional landscape and creating a sense of conversation between the speaker and the beloved.
2. Metaphors:
The speaker employs metaphors to evoke vivid imagery and convey complex emotions. In lines 4 and 5, he compares his death to being “compounded am with clay” and his final resting place to being amongst “vilest worms,” emphasizing the unpleasantness and finality of death. Conversely, the “sweet thoughts” of the beloved represent the beauty and enduring nature of love.
3. Personification:
The poem personifies the “sullen sullen bell” in line 2, imbuing it with a sense of ominousness and foreshadowing the speaker’s death. This adds a layer of depth and creates a sense of impending doom.
4. Enjambment:
The poem utilizes enjambment throughout, with sentences running across line breaks. This creates a sense of urgency and flow, propelling the reader forward and emphasizing the speaker’s emotional intensity.
5. Inversion:
Lines 7 and 8, “That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot, / If thinking on me then should make you woe,” showcase inversion, where the sentence structure is reversed. This inversion emphasizes the speaker’s selfless desire to be forgotten if it would spare the beloved pain.
6. Rhetorical Questions:
The poem poses rhetorical questions, such as “O, if (I say) you look upon this verse,” in line 9. These questions encourage the reader to consider the speaker’s perspective and engage with the poem’s emotional core, prompting deeper reflection on the message.
7. Repetition:
The repeated use of words and phrases, such as “mourn” and “remember,” reinforces the speaker’s central plea to be forgotten. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the depth and intensity of his love for the beloved.
8. Juxtaposition:
The poem effectively juxtaposes contrasting ideas, such as the beauty of love and the ugliness of death, highlighting the complexity of human emotions and the fragility of life. This juxtaposition adds depth and creates a sense of tension within the poem.
9. Hyperbole:
The speaker’s statement, “But let your love even with my life decay,” in line 12, might be seen as an exaggeration of his desire to avoid causing the beloved pain. This hyperbole amplifies the speaker’s emotional intensity and underscores his selflessness.
10. Rhyme Scheme:
The poem adheres to the traditional Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG). This consistent rhyme scheme provides a sense of unity and structure, complementing the poem’s introspective tone and adding to its memorability.
11. Iambic Pentameter:
The poem utilizes the iambic pentameter, a metrical pattern that consists of five “iambs” (unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line. This regular rhythm contributes to the poem’s formality and enhances its musicality, adding to its emotional impact and memorability.
Conclusion:
The skillful and varied use of poetic devices in Sonnet 71 plays a crucial role in enhancing its emotional depth, intellectual complexity, and aesthetic appeal. Through these devices, Shakespeare masterfully crafts a poem that transcends the boundaries of time and resonates with readers on a profound level. The poem’s enduring message about love, death, and memory continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
