Sonnet 15 by William Shakespeare Summary

This sonnet is one of Shakespeare’s most beautiful and poignant meditations on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The speaker begins by observing that everything in the natural world is ephemeral, even the stars that seem to hold dominion over the heavens. He then turns to the human condition, noting that men, like plants, grow and flourish for a time only to eventually wither and fade.

The speaker’s reflections on mortality lead him to appreciate the beauty of the young man he is addressing even more. He sees the young man as the embodiment of youth and vitality, a precious and fragile thing that Time and Decay are constantly threatening to destroy.

In the final lines of the sonnet, the speaker expresses his determination to defy Time and preserve the young man’s beauty. He will do this by “engrafting” him into his poetry, creating a lasting portrait of him that will endure even after the young man himself is gone.

Sonnet 15 is a powerful and moving reminder of the beauty and fragility of life. It is a testament to the power of art to transcend time and mortality, and to offer solace in the face of loss.

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 15 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 in this sonnet is an unnamed narrator who deeply cares for a young, beautiful man

Setting: The setting is not explicitly mentioned in the sonnet. However, the themes of growth, decay, and time suggest a universal setting.

Theme: The main theme of this sonnet is the transitory nature of life and beauty, and the power of poetry to immortalize them.

Plot: The speaker reflects on how everything that grows holds perfection only for a moment. He compares the life cycle of humans to that of plants. He then addresses a young man, expressing concern about his inevitable aging and decay. The speaker resolves to fight against time by immortalizing the young man’s beauty in his sonnets.

Tone: Melancholic, but hopeful.

Style: Shakespeare’s style in this sonnet, like many of his others, is characterized by its iambic pentameter and intricate rhyme scheme. It uses a number of metaphors to express the speaker’s concern.

Message: The message of the sonnet is that while physical beauty and life are fleeting, they can be immortalized through poetry. The speaker uses his verse as a weapon against time, promising to preserve the young man’s beauty in his writings.

Structure and Rhyme Scheme

Structure

The structure of Sonnet 15 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.

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