Analysis of Sonnet 12 by Shakespeare

Dear Aspirant,

A sonnet may be a 14-line poem that rhymes during a particular pattern. The pattern of the sonnet was based on a rhyming scheme where the couplet was set to present either a surprise of a summary of the content in the first half of the poem. The poetic rhythm of the sonnets is that the iambic pentameter. An iamb consists of 1 stressed syllable and one unstressed syllable. Shakespeare uses five of those in each line, which makes it a pentameter. The sonnet may be a difficult kind for the poet due to its restrictions on length and meter.

Sonnet 12 is one among the foremost famous sonnets of English tradition by Shakespeare and it'll always be one among the best sonnets within the history of language. Interestingly, the Volta happens during the 9th line of the sonnet.

William Shakespeare uses three symbolic tools for the representation of human life, death and virtues, i.e., colours, time, and wonder respectively.

The sonnet is about how time brings all things to an end. Shakespeare presents images suggesting the transient time and therefore the mouldering lifetime of living things. Shakespeare begins to question Youth’s beauty, which he has been praising. and therefore the only thing which will ‘defend’ the young from this inevitable process is the continuation of life.

Sonnet 12 provides a series of images. Starting with Shakespeare watching time expire ‘the clock that tells the time’, gradually moving towards suggestions of the continuance of existence as to how to defend time’s irreparable damage. Solution for this above problem is mentioned in through the last couplet. The couplet here recommends the person, which is to possess children to brave death.

Hope this helps. All the best!