Sonnet 116

Question 1

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.”

Answer 1

Shakespeare opens the sonnet with a declarative statement that defines love as perfect and unchanging.
The metaphor of the “marriage of true minds” suggests an idealized union based on intellectual and emotional compatibility rather than physical attraction.
The word “impediments” is borrowed from the language of marriage ceremonies, implying that no obstacle can disrupt this true bond.
By rejecting the possibility of such hindrances, Shakespeare emphasizes the purity and constancy of true love, setting the tone for the rest of the poem.

Question 2

“Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds.”

Answer 2

This tautological definition reinforces the unwavering nature of true love.
The repetition of “love” creates a rhythmic emphasis, reflecting its steadfastness.
The phrase “alters when it alteration finds” uses polyptoton (the repetition of the root word “alter” in different grammatical forms) to highlight the contrast between true love and superficial affection that is fickle.
By employing polyptoton, Shakespeare emphasizes how genuine love does not shift or adapt to external changes, further underscoring its constancy and resilience.

Question 3

“It is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.”

Answer 3

Here, love is metaphorically compared to a lighthouse (“ever-fixed mark”), symbolizing guidance, constancy, and strength.
The imagery of “tempests” evokes chaos and hardship, suggesting that true love endures through life’s challenges.
The phrase “is never shaken” conveys an absolute quality, further solidifying love’s permanence. Shakespeare’s use of natural imagery, such as storms, elevates the universality of love and its indomitable nature.

Question 4

“It is the star to every wandering bark, / Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.”

Answer 4

The metaphor of love as a “star” aligns it with celestial and eternal qualities, guiding lost souls (represented by the “wandering bark” or ship).
This aligns love with navigation and direction, suggesting it provides purpose and orientation in life.
The phrase “whose worth’s unknown” underscores love’s ineffable nature-while its effects are measurable (like a star’s height in navigation), its true essence remains mysterious and invaluable. Shakespeare implies that love transcends material or scientific understanding, aligning it with a higher spiritual truth.

Question 5

“Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks / Within his bending sickle’s compass come.”

Answer 5

Shakespeare personifies “Time” as a reaper with a “bending sickle,” an image of death and decay.
The contrast between youthful beauty (“rosy lips and cheeks”) and the inevitability of aging underscores the transient nature of physical attributes.
However, the assertion that “Love’s not Time’s fool” emphasizes that true love transcends physical decay and the limitations of mortality.
By separating love from the effects of time, Shakespeare elevates it to something eternal and unassailable, contrasting superficial attraction with profound emotional bonds.

Question 6

Form

Answer 6

1. Sonnet Form: Shakespearean (or English Sonnet)
   • Sonnet 116 follows the Shakespearean sonnet structure: 14 lines of iambic pentameter divided into three quatrains and a rhyming couplet with an
   ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme.
   • This rigid form mirrors the poem’s subject: the steadfast, unchanging nature of true love. The strict structure reinforces the constancy and reliability of love that Shakespeare celebrates.
2. lambic Pentameter
   • The steady, rhythmic heartbeat of iambic pentameter reflects love’s eternal and natural qualities. The smooth flow of the meter conveys the harmony and balance of true love.
   • Deviations in the meter are subtle but deliberate; they emphasize key ideas. For instance, “Love is not love” disrupts the rhythm slightly, drawing attention to the central argument that true love is unchanging.

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

• Three Quatrains and a Rhyming Couplet:
• Quatrain 1 (Lines 1-4): Defines true love as constant and unchanging.
• Quatrain 2 (Lines 5-8): Uses metaphors (e.g., “ever-fixed mark”) to illustrate love’s permanence.
• Quatrain 3 (Lines 9-12): Explores love’s defiance of time and mortality.
• Couplet (Lines 13-14): Includes the Volta (shift in focus). Shakespeare boldly claims that if his view of love is wrong, then no one has ever truly loved.

• Logical Progression:
• Proposition: Love is unchanging and unconditional.
• Development: Love remains steadfast through challenges and time.
• Conclusion: The poet’s certainty about love is declared with confidence.

• Circular Structure:
• The poem begins with a definitive statement on love and ends with a confident reaffirmation, mirroring the eternal nature of true love.

Question 8

Context

Answer 8

Elizabethan Views on Love:
• Written during the late 16th century, Sonnet 116 reflects Renaissance ideals of love as eternal, spiritual, and transcendent. Shakespeare’s portrayal of love
aligns with the belief that true love is more than physical attraction; it is intellectual and emotional unity that endures beyond superficial qualities.
• Love was often idealized in sonnets as perfect and unchanging, influenced by Petrarchan conventions.

Question 9

Themes

Answer 9

• The constancy of true love
• Love’s ability to endure challenges
• Love as eternal and unchanging
• The timeless nature of love versus physical decay
• Love as a guiding and universal force