Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare | Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore | Sonnet 60 | William Shakespeare | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
Sonnet 60
Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore
Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Nativity, once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,
Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
Line 1: Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore,
Explanation: The speaker begins by comparing the relentless march of time to the waves crashing against the shore. Each wave, like each moment, rushes forward, only to be replaced by the next.
Line 2: So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Explanation: The speaker extends the metaphor to human life, suggesting that our lives are made up of fleeting moments that quickly pass away.
Line 3: Each changing place with that which goes before,
Explanation: The speaker emphasizes the continuous nature of time, as each moment takes the place of the one that came before it.
Line 4: In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Explanation: The speaker uses the word “toil” to suggest that the passage of time is a relentless and exhausting process.
Line 5: Nativity, once in the main of light,
Explanation: The speaker shifts focus to the human life cycle, beginning with birth. He uses the phrase “main of light” to suggest the brightness and promise of new life.
Line 6: Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Explanation: The speaker describes the journey from infancy to adulthood, using the word “crawls” to suggest the slow and steady process of growth.
Line 7: Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,
Explanation: The speaker introduces the theme of aging, using the metaphor of eclipses to suggest the dark shadow that old age casts over youth.
Line 8: And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Explanation: The speaker personifies time as a giver who eventually takes back his gift of youth and beauty.
Line 9: Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
Explanation: The speaker describes the destructive effects of time on youth, using the word “transfix” to suggest a piercing or wounding.
Line 10: And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,
Explanation: The speaker continues to describe the physical effects of aging, mentioning wrinkles as a sign of beauty’s decline.
Line 11: Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,
Explanation: The speaker personifies time as a predator, consuming all that is beautiful and natural.
Line 12: And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
Explanation: The speaker uses the image of a scythe to reinforce the destructive power of time, suggesting that nothing can escape its grasp.
Line 13: And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Explanation: The speaker introduces a note of hope, suggesting that his poetry may endure even as he is consumed by time.
Line 14: Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.
Explanation: The speaker concludes the poem by reaffirming his love and admiration for his beloved, suggesting that his poetry will serve as a lasting tribute to their beauty.
Summary
Sonnet 60 is a somber reflection on the fleeting nature of time and beauty. The speaker compares the relentless march of time to the waves crashing against the shore, each moment inexorably replaced by the next. This relentless passage of time erodes all things, even youth and beauty. However, the speaker finds solace in the hope that his poetry will endure, even as he is consumed by time’s scythe.
Themes
Time: The poem is dominated by the theme of time, which is portrayed as a relentless force that consumes all things. The speaker compares time to waves and a scythe, emphasizing its destructive power.
Beauty: Beauty is also a central theme of the poem. The speaker laments the fact that even beauty is not immune to the ravages of time. He describes how time “delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,” suggesting that even the most beautiful faces are eventually etched with wrinkles.
Art: The speaker finds solace in the hope that his poetry will endure, even as he is consumed by time. He believes that his words will continue to praise the beauty of his beloved, even after he is gone.
Structure
The poem is a Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of three quatrains and a couplet. The quatrains are written in iambic pentameter, a metrical pattern that gives the poem a regular and flowing rhythm. The couplet at the end of the poem provides a sense of closure and reinforces the theme of hope.
Language and Imagery
The poem is rich in language and imagery. The speaker uses metaphors and similes to convey his ideas. For example, he compares time to waves and a scythe, and he describes beauty as being “crown’d” with maturity. The imagery of the poem is both beautiful and haunting, reflecting the poem’s dual themes of time and beauty.
Overall Sonnet 60 is a powerful and moving poem about the fleeting nature of time and beauty. The speaker’s despair at the power of time is tempered by his hope that his poetry will endure. The poem is a reminder that, even though we are all subject to time’s relentless march, our art can live on and continue to inspire others.
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: “Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore” (Sonnet 60) 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 the poem is presumably William Shakespeare himself, or a persona he has created for the purpose of the poem.
Setting: The setting of the poem is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that the poem takes place in a metaphysical realm where the speaker is contemplating the nature of time.
Theme: The main theme of the poem is the power of time to take life from even the most beautiful and the power of writing to fight back.
Plot: The speaker spends the majority of the poem using personification to describe time as a force that gives and then takes away. It chooses to destroy all of that which it once created.
Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and philosophical.
Style: The poem is characterized by its use of metaphors, imagery, and symbolism, making it both powerful and accessible.
Message: The poem is a reminder that time is fleeting and that beauty is impermanent.
Word Meaning
| Line | Tough Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
| 1 | Pebbled | Covered with small stones | छोटे पत्थरों से ढका हुआ |
| 1 | Shore | Seaside | समुद्र का किनारा |
| 2 | Minutes | Life | जीवन |
| 2 | Hasten | To move quickly | जल्दी से चलना |
| 4 | Sequent | Following in a continuous order | एक निरंतर क्रम में निम्नलिखित |
| 4 | Toil | Hard work | कड़ी मेहनत |
| 4 | Contend | Struggle | संघर्ष करना |
| 5 | Nativity | Birth | जन्म |
| 6 | Crawls | To move slowly with your body on or close to the ground, or on your hands and knees | हाथों और घुटनों के बल चलना; रेंगना |
| 6 | Maturity | The state of being fully grown or developed | पूरी तरह से विकसित होने या विकसित होने की स्थिति |
| 6 | Crown’d | Crowned | ताज पहनाया |
| 7 | Crooked | Not straight or level | सीधा या सम नहीं |
| 7 | Eclipses | Shadowing | ग्रहण |
| 7 | Glory | Fame | वैभव |
| 8 | Doth | present tense third-person singular of do.(Does) | |
| 8 | Confound | To make someone confused or unable to understand something | किसी को भ्रमित करना या किसी चीज़ को समझने में असमर्थ बनाना |
| 9 | Transfix | To pierce or wound deeply | गहराई से छेदना या घायल करना |
| 9 | Flourish | Growth | फलना-फूलना |
| 10 | Delves | to search inside something | गहरी खोज करना |
| 10 | Parallels | Lines or ridges that are parallel to one another | एक दूसरे के समानांतर रेखाएं या लकीरें |
| 10 | Beauty’s brow | Forehead or face of a beautiful person, highlighting their grace and attractiveness in a poetic way | सौंदर्य की भौंह |
| 11 | Rarities | Things that are rare or uncommon | दुर्लभ या असामान्य चीजें |
| 12 | Scythe | A tool with a curved blade, used for cutting grass or crops | हाँसिया, दराँती |
| 12 | Mow | Clip | काटना |
| 13 | Verse | A line of poetry | कविता की एक पंक्ति |
| 14 | Thy | your | तुम्हारा |
| 14 | Despite | In spite of something | किसी चीज के बावजूद |
Very Short Answer Questions
What is the poem’s theme?
The fleeting nature of time and beauty.
What does the speaker compare the passage of time to?
The waves crashing against the shore.
What happens to each moment in time?
It is replaced by the next moment.
What does the speaker use to describe the journey from infancy to adulthood?
The word “crawls”.
What does the speaker use to represent the dark shadow that old age casts over youth?
The metaphor of eclipses.
What does the speaker personify time as?
A giver who eventually takes back his gift.
What does the speaker use to describe the physical effects of aging?
Wrinkles.
What does the speaker compare time to in line 12?
A scythe.
What does the speaker find solace in?
The hope that his poetry will endure.
What does the speaker hope his poetry will do?
Immortalize his beloved’s beauty.
What is the tone of the poem?
Melancholy and reflective.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
What is the meter of the poem?
Iambic pentameter.
What are some of the literary devices used in the poem?
Metaphor, personification, simile.
What is the significance of the poem’s title?
The title is simply the number of the sonnet.
Who is the speaker of the poem?
The speaker is a man who is lamenting the passage of time and the loss of his beloved’s beauty.
Who is the audience of the poem?
The poem is addressed to the speaker’s beloved.
What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject matter?
The speaker is sad and resigned about the passage of time, but he also finds solace in the hope that his poetry will endure.
What is the overall message of the poem?
The poem is a reminder that time is fleeting and that beauty is impermanent.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the poem’s theme?
The poem’s theme is the fleeting nature of time and beauty. The speaker laments the fact that everything is eventually consumed by time, including youth and beauty.
2. What does the speaker compare the passage of time to?
The speaker compares the passage of time to the waves crashing against the shore. He suggests that just as the waves relentlessly move towards the shore, so too does time move relentlessly forward, eventually consuming everything in its path.
3. What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject matter?
The speaker’s attitude toward the subject matter is bittersweet. He is saddened by the fact that time and beauty are fleeting, but he also finds solace in the hope that his poetry will endure, even as he is consumed by time’s relentless march.
4. What is the overall message of the poem?
The poem is a reminder that time is fleeting and that beauty is impermanent. However, it also suggests that art can transcend time and preserve beauty, even in the face of death.
5. What are some of the literary devices used in the poem?
The poem uses a number of literary devices, including metaphors, similes, and personification. For example, the speaker compares time to waves and a scythe, and he describes beauty as being “crown’d” with maturity.
6. What is the significance of the poem’s title?
The poem’s title is simply the number of the sonnet. However, the number 60 is associated with wisdom and experience, which are both relevant themes in the poem.
7. Who is the speaker of the poem?
The speaker of the poem is a man who is lamenting the passage of time and the loss of his beloved’s beauty. He is a poet who believes in the power of art to transcend time and preserve beauty.
8. Who is the audience of the poem?
The poem is addressed to the speaker’s beloved. However, it can also be read as a message to all readers about the fleeting nature of time and beauty.
9. What is the speaker’s tone?
The speaker’s tone is melancholic and reflective. He is saddened by the passage of time and the loss of his beloved’s beauty. However, he also finds solace in the hope that his poetry will endure.
10. What is the meter of the poem?
The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a metrical pattern consisting of five metrical feet, each of which consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This gives the poem a regular and flowing rhythm.
Essay Type Questions
1. Write the critical appreciation of the poem.
Introduction
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 60 is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the ephemeral beauty of youth. Through evocative imagery and masterful use of poetic devices, the speaker laments the relentless march of time, which inevitably consumes all things, including the youthful radiance that once adorned his beloved. Yet, amidst this somber contemplation, a glimmer of hope emerges – the enduring power of art. The speaker finds solace in the belief that his poetry will transcend the boundaries of time, immortalizing his beloved’s beauty even as it fades from the physical realm.
Structure and Form
Sonnet 60 adheres to the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, comprising three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The poem’s rhythmic flow is established through the consistent use of iambic pentameter, a metrical pattern consisting of five metrical feet, each composed of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This rhythmic regularity lends a sense of order and balance to the poem’s exploration of themes that are inherently chaotic and unpredictable.
The rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG contributes to the poem’s coherence and memorability. The quatrains employ a pattern of alternating rhymes, creating a sense of sonic anticipation and resolution within each stanza. The concluding couplet, with its rhyming GG, provides a sense of closure and reinforces the poem’s central message.
Theme
The overarching theme of Sonnet 60 is the ephemeral nature of time and beauty. The speaker observes that time, like the relentless waves crashing upon the shore, sweeps away all things, including the youthful beauty that once captivated him. This realization is infused with a sense of melancholy, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitable decline of beauty and the transformative power of time.
Interwoven with the theme of impermanence is the enduring power of art. The speaker finds solace in the belief that his poetry will transcend the boundaries of time, immortalizing his beloved’s beauty even as it fades from the physical world. Through the power of words, the speaker hopes to create a lasting tribute to his beloved, preserving their essence beyond the reach of time’s relentless march.
Imagery
The poem is rich in imagery, employing vivid metaphors and similes to convey the speaker’s observations and emotions. The opening lines establish the pervasive theme of time’s relentless passage, comparing the waves crashing upon the shore to the hastening of each minute. This imagery sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of beauty’s fragility, as the speaker observes the transformative effects of time on youth and beauty.
The imagery of maturity and aging is particularly poignant, with the speaker describing how time “delves the parallels in beauty’s brow” and “Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth.” These metaphors convey the subtle yet profound changes that time wreaks upon beauty, eroding its youthful perfection and revealing the markings of age.
Poetic Devices
The poem employs a range of poetic devices to enhance its impact and convey the speaker’s emotions. Metaphors and similes are used extensively throughout the poem, as mentioned earlier. These devices allow the speaker to draw comparisons between disparate concepts, creating vivid and memorable imagery.
Personification is another notable device, as the speaker imbues time with human qualities, describing it as a giver who eventually reclaims his gifts. This personification emphasizes the power of time and its ability to transform beauty.
The poem also employs repetition, particularly in the use of the word “time.” This repetition reinforces the poem’s central theme of time’s relentless march and its overarching influence on human existence.
Conclusion
Sonnet 60 is a masterful exploration of the fleeting nature of time and beauty, infused with a sense of melancholy and a glimmer of hope. The speaker’s lament over the loss of youth and beauty is tempered by his belief in the enduring power of art, which he sees as a means to transcend the limitations of time and preserve beauty’s essence. Through evocative imagery and skillful use of poetic devices, the poem leaves a lasting impression on the reader, reminding us of the fragility of beauty and the enduring power of art.
