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  1. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and has a constant rhyme pattern that follows the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG structure. Sonnet 2 Summary

    The poem is written in iambic pentameter and has a constant rhyme pattern that follows the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG structure.

    Sonnet 2 Summary

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  1. The poem explores the notion that beauty is transient and vulnerable to the effects of time. The speaker encourages a young man to think about the repercussions of not getting married and not passing on his attractiveness to future generations. As the speaker emphasizes the short-term nature of youtRead more

    The poem explores the notion that beauty is transient and vulnerable to the effects of time. The speaker encourages a young man to think about the repercussions of not getting married and not passing on his attractiveness to future generations. As the speaker emphasizes the short-term nature of youth and the inevitable passage of time, the concept of time is also important. In the end, the sonnet emphasizes how important reproduction is for surviving mortality and ensuring the survival of one’s line. The longing for a lasting legacy and the beauty and fragility of human existence are both reflected in it.

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  1. Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, without using "like" or "as." Example from the poem: "And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field."  Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory impressions and evoke imagery in the reader's mind. Example fromRead more

    1. Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, without using “like” or “as.” Example from the poem: “And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field.” 
    2. Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory impressions and evoke imagery in the reader’s mind. Example from the poem: “And see thy blood warm when thou feel’st it cold.” 
    3. Personification: Giving human attributes or qualities to non-human objects or abstract concepts. Example from the poem: “Thy youth’s proud livery so gazed on now.” 
    4. Repetition: The deliberate repetition of words or phrases for emphasis or to create a rhythmic effect. Example from the poem: The repetition of the word “old” in the lines “And make my old excuse” and “When thou art old” creates a sense of parallelism and reinforces the theme of aging.
    5. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. Example from the poem: “Where all the treasure of thy lusty days.” The repetition of the “t” sound in “treasure” and “lusty” creates an alliterative effect.

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  1. Shakespeare's sonnet "When forty winters shall besiege thy brow" discusses the need of having children in order to preserve one's beauty and legacy. Speaking to the Fair Youth, the speaker warns him that his beauty would soon fade and his face will resemble a plowed field. After that, he won't be abRead more

    Shakespeare’s sonnet “When forty winters shall besiege thy brow” discusses the need of having children in order to preserve one’s beauty and legacy. Speaking to the Fair Youth, the speaker warns him that his beauty would soon fade and his face will resemble a plowed field. After that, he won’t be able to preserve his reputation because of humiliation. The only solution to this is for the young man to have a kid that he may endow with his attractiveness. He’ll then have a justification for his wrinkles. In addition, he will appear to have been born again. 

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