Essay Type Questions
1. Write the critical appreciation of the poem “Sonnet 71” by William Shakespeare.
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 “Sonnet 71” by William Shakespeare .
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.
