-Revised Copy-
Many consider William Shakespeare the greatest writer of the Renaissance period, and one of the greatest in history. He wrote 154 sonnets, many plays, and much more. His sonnets are addressed to one of two subjects, an unidentified young man or a "dark lady." Employing different rhyming schemes, tones, personification, themes and diction, he reveals his thoughts on these two subjects. In one particular sonnet, LXIV, Shakespeare uses these techniques to invoke a negative tone on the subjects of time and death. His theme plays on the popularized thought of the time, Humanism. The theme is that some aspects of life, such as the tide and death, are constant and inevitable but people still fear them.
In the first quatrain of sonnet LXIV, Shakespeare warns the young man against the wrath of time. He describes time as being as constant as the tide; no matter, what time will destroy what is loved most. Words such as "mortal rage", "razed" and "defaced" reveal Shakespeare's tone and show the corrosive effects of this invisible enemy. The use of razed, which means to shave or scrape off, implies that time takes away what is beloved slowly but surely. Defaced, meaning to mar the surface of, also gives the illusion that time is just an entity bent on destruction. Shakespeare is telling the subject he has seen time destroy many things in his lifetime. By giving time all of these attributes, Shakespeare is also personifying time. In this way, Shakespeare is bringing in the common thought of the time period. Humanism was a popular belief during the Renaissance, and it focused on the individuals' achievements and prosperity. This idea of time as being an evil entity reveals how people had begun to think that life on earth was more precious than being in Paradise. Time was just something that would come along and destroy it.
The second quatrain then compares time to the tides of the ocean. The tides of the ocean are constant, flowing in and out, taking away from the shore, yet bringing life to the shore. This is shown from the line "Increasing store with loss, and loss with store." This brings a semi-hopeful tone to the sonnet. By comparing time to the tide,Shakespeare is saying that even though time can be force of destruction, it also can be a source of life. While time ages a person and takes them away from the world, it also teaches the young and bestows wisdom on them. Time is a constant force, like the tide, that takes away life, and brings in new life.The third quatrain brings back the negative tone. Saying, "Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate - That Time will come and take my love away." These lines reiterate the thought of time being a destructive force. The meaning of the line is that the ruins and destruction that Shakespeare saw in his life made him conclude that time will eventually come and take his beloved possessions away.
The theme of this sonnet also ties in with Renaissance thought. Humanist ideas began to move away from a focus on the afterlife. The sonnet is focused on the present, and fearful of death. The ending couplet -- "This thought is as a death, which cannot choose, But weep to have that which it fears to lose" -- shows that even though the passage of time and death are inevitable, society still fears them.Shakespeare used powerful words and diction to get his ideas across, often portraying time as an evil, ravaging entity. He also tied in humanistic ideas of the era to help support his themes. The universal themes of Shakespeare's sonnets are one reason they live on today.
-Original Copy-
Many consider William Shakespeare the greatest writer of the Renaissance period, and one of the greatest in history. He wrote 154 sonnets, many plays, and much more. His sonnets are addressed to one of two subjects, an unidentified young man or a "dark lady." Employing different rhyming schemes, tones, personification, themes and diction, he reveals his thoughts on these two subjects. Shakespeare's sonnets also reflected the change of thought that was occurring around him as Europe emerged from the Dark Ages. Humanist ideas can be found throughout his writings. In one particular sonnet, LXIV, all of Shakespeare's techniques are displayed.
In Sonnet LXIV, Shakespeare warns the young man against the wrath of time. He describes time as being as constant as the tide; no matter, what time will destroy what is loved most. Words such as "mortal rage", "razed" and "defaced" reveal Shakespeare's tone and show the corrosive effects of this invisible enemy. In this way,
Shakespeare also gives the illusion that time has human emotions; he is personifying time.
The theme of this sonnet ties in with Renaissance thought. Humanist ideas began to move away from a focus on the afterlife, toward the present. The sonnet is focused on the present, and fearful of death. The ending couplet -- "This thought is as a death, which cannot choose, But weep to have that which it fears to lose" -- shows that even though the passage of time and death are inevitable, society still fears them.
Shakespeare used powerful words and diction to get his ideas across, often portraying time as an evil, ravaging entity. He also tied in humanistic ideas of the era to help support his themes. The universal themes of Shakespeare's sonnets are one reason they live on today.
Many consider William Shakespeare the greatest writer of the Renaissance period, and one of the greatest in history. He wrote 154 sonnets, many plays, and much more. His sonnets are addressed to one of two subjects, an unidentified young man or a "dark lady." Employing different rhyming schemes, tones, personification, themes and diction, he reveals his thoughts on these two subjects. In one particular sonnet, LXIV, Shakespeare uses these techniques to invoke a negative tone on the subjects of time and death. His theme plays on the popularized thought of the time, Humanism. The theme is that some aspects of life, such as the tide and death, are constant and inevitable but people still fear them.
In the first quatrain of sonnet LXIV, Shakespeare warns the young man against the wrath of time. He describes time as being as constant as the tide; no matter, what time will destroy what is loved most. Words such as "mortal rage", "razed" and "defaced" reveal Shakespeare's tone and show the corrosive effects of this invisible enemy. The use of razed, which means to shave or scrape off, implies that time takes away what is beloved slowly but surely. Defaced, meaning to mar the surface of, also gives the illusion that time is just an entity bent on destruction. Shakespeare is telling the subject he has seen time destroy many things in his lifetime. By giving time all of these attributes, Shakespeare is also personifying time. In this way, Shakespeare is bringing in the common thought of the time period. Humanism was a popular belief during the Renaissance, and it focused on the individuals' achievements and prosperity. This idea of time as being an evil entity reveals how people had begun to think that life on earth was more precious than being in Paradise. Time was just something that would come along and destroy it.
The second quatrain then compares time to the tides of the ocean. The tides of the ocean are constant, flowing in and out, taking away from the shore, yet bringing life to the shore. This is shown from the line "Increasing store with loss, and loss with store." This brings a semi-hopeful tone to the sonnet. By comparing time to the tide,Shakespeare is saying that even though time can be force of destruction, it also can be a source of life. While time ages a person and takes them away from the world, it also teaches the young and bestows wisdom on them. Time is a constant force, like the tide, that takes away life, and brings in new life.The third quatrain brings back the negative tone. Saying, "Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate - That Time will come and take my love away." These lines reiterate the thought of time being a destructive force. The meaning of the line is that the ruins and destruction that Shakespeare saw in his life made him conclude that time will eventually come and take his beloved possessions away.
The theme of this sonnet also ties in with Renaissance thought. Humanist ideas began to move away from a focus on the afterlife. The sonnet is focused on the present, and fearful of death. The ending couplet -- "This thought is as a death, which cannot choose, But weep to have that which it fears to lose" -- shows that even though the passage of time and death are inevitable, society still fears them.Shakespeare used powerful words and diction to get his ideas across, often portraying time as an evil, ravaging entity. He also tied in humanistic ideas of the era to help support his themes. The universal themes of Shakespeare's sonnets are one reason they live on today.
-Original Copy-
Many consider William Shakespeare the greatest writer of the Renaissance period, and one of the greatest in history. He wrote 154 sonnets, many plays, and much more. His sonnets are addressed to one of two subjects, an unidentified young man or a "dark lady." Employing different rhyming schemes, tones, personification, themes and diction, he reveals his thoughts on these two subjects. Shakespeare's sonnets also reflected the change of thought that was occurring around him as Europe emerged from the Dark Ages. Humanist ideas can be found throughout his writings. In one particular sonnet, LXIV, all of Shakespeare's techniques are displayed.
In Sonnet LXIV, Shakespeare warns the young man against the wrath of time. He describes time as being as constant as the tide; no matter, what time will destroy what is loved most. Words such as "mortal rage", "razed" and "defaced" reveal Shakespeare's tone and show the corrosive effects of this invisible enemy. In this way,
Shakespeare also gives the illusion that time has human emotions; he is personifying time.
The theme of this sonnet ties in with Renaissance thought. Humanist ideas began to move away from a focus on the afterlife, toward the present. The sonnet is focused on the present, and fearful of death. The ending couplet -- "This thought is as a death, which cannot choose, But weep to have that which it fears to lose" -- shows that even though the passage of time and death are inevitable, society still fears them.
Shakespeare used powerful words and diction to get his ideas across, often portraying time as an evil, ravaging entity. He also tied in humanistic ideas of the era to help support his themes. The universal themes of Shakespeare's sonnets are one reason they live on today.