Sonnet-116 Poem Summary, Questions and Answers
Sonnet-116 Poem Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Attempt a critical appreciation of Sonnet 116.
Answer:
Sonnet 116 is a well known poem in the entire sequence. The definition of love which Shakespeare forwards in this sonnet has become a yardstick of what true love means. Love can be labelled as true only when it shows the power to overcome every “impediment” that comes in its way.
True love however is constant, immortal and continues to exist even when physical beauty falls prey to time’s sickle. Such conviction goads the bard to compose the poem and glorify true love. The poem opens with the speaker disapproving any sort of interference amidst true love.
True love conquers all barriers which come on its way and remains loyal and committed forever. Love ceases to become true if it changes with the change of time or with the change in the loved one. The storms of life can never influence true love all because of its firmness.
This idea is further consolidated with the image of a pole star which never changes its position in the night sky. In fact, pole star is an “ever fixed mark” which cannot be “shaken” even by violent tempest. The reference to tempest is significant in the sense that it represents the blows of life, the “impediments” which tends to threat the lovers ionging to unite all because of their “true minds”.
Real love thus, stands the test of time and guides the course of life just like the pole star guiding a lost ship in the uncharted ocean. In this sense, the value of true love is inestimable like the pole star whose altitude can be determined but, its worth remains immeasurable.
In the third quatrain, the speaker personifies time as a Grim Reaper dressed in long robe and carrying a sickle. Just as a reaper reaps crops with his sickle, time destroys the lustrous beauty of a person. The rosy lips and cheeks thus, come within time’s blow but true love endures because it is transcendental. True love does not change with hours and weeks.
Instead, continues remaining loyal and devoted till the dreadful day of judgment. If such conviction proves to be wrong, the poet says that he would not have written a single word and people wouldn’t have been in love.
As regard to its form, Sonnet 116 is written strictly in accordance with the structure maintained in other sonnets of Shakespeare. There are indeed three quatrains and a couplet which ends the sonnet. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg.
Question 2.
“Sonnet 116 bristles with various images.” Discuss with close reference to the poem.
Answer:
Imagery is a common term of variable meaning, which includes the “mental pictures” that readers experience within a passage of literature. It signifies all the sensory perceptions referred to in a poem, whether by literal description, allusion, simile, or metaphor.
Imagery however is not limited to visual imagery; it also includes auditory (sound), tactile (touch), olfactory (smell)’, and gustatory (taste) sensation. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, bristles with various images which collectively establishes the poet’s belief that true love does not come in the range of time’s sickle.
To begin with, the poem opens with a declaration that true love has the magical power to conquer all barriers which come on its way and still remains loyal and committed forever. Love ceases to become true if it changes with the change of time or with the change in the loved one. In fact, real love continues to survive amidst all odds and is always steady and firm.
The storms of life can never influence true love all because of its firmness. This idea is further consolidated with the image of a pole star which never changes its position in the night sky. In fact, pole star is an “ever fixed mark” which cannot be “shaken” even by violent tempest.
The reference to tempest is significant in the sense that it represents the blows of life, the “impediments” which tends to threat the lovers longing to unite all because of their “true minds”. But, real love successfully stands the test of time and guides the course of life just like the pole star guiding a lost ship in the uncharted ocean. In this sense, the value of true love is inestimable like the pole star whose altitude can be determined but, its worth remains immeasurable.
However, in the third quatrain, time is personified as a Grim Reaper, in long robe, carrying a sickle. The image however is drawn from the traditional myth of Cronus a harvest god, in long robes, bearing a scythe. Just as a reaper reaps crops with his sickle, time destroys the lustrous beauty of a person.
The rosy lips and cheeks thus, come within time’s blow but true Jove endures because it is transcendental. True love does not change with hours and weeks. Instead, continues remaining loyal and devoted till the dreadful day of judgment. If such conviction proves to be wrong, the poet would not have written a single word. Even people wouldn’t have been in love if true love isn’t what the poet claims it to be.
Sonnet-116 Poem Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Provide a succinct description of the factors that determine that “love is not love”.
Answer:
Sonnet 116 presents a catalogue of factors which determines whether love is true or fake. In the first quatrain, it is made clear what love is not. For example, true love endures every impediment on its way and yet continues to exist triumphantly.
In other words, true love conquers all obstacles that stand in its way and remains consistently stable and Firm. Love ceases to become true if it changes with the change of time. Even if there is a significant change in the loved one should not give up.
After all real love doesn’t disappear even when the loved one remove affection. Real love continues to survive amidst all odds and is always steady and firm. The storms of life can never influence true love all because of its firmness. Moreover, it no longer qualifies as true love which changes with hours and weeks. Time has no influence over it.
Hence, true love continues to remain loyal and devoted till the” dreadful day of judgment. Shakespeare however is too specific about what true love isn’t which establishes his high regard for love. In a way, it is only love for love’s sake that he considers as true love in his sonnet.
Question 2.
Provide a succinct description of the factors that determine true love.
Answer:
Sonnet 116 presents a catalogue of factors that determines whether love is true or fake. True love however endures all impediments which come on its way and yet continues to exist triumphantly. In other words, true love conquers all obstacles that stand in its way and remains consistently stable and firm.
The v storms of life can never influence true love all because of its constancy. Shakespeare further strengthens this idea with the image of a pole star. Just which never changes its position in the night sky. In fact, pole star is an “ever-fixed mark” which cannot be “shaken” even by violent tempest.
The reference to tempest is significant in the sense that it represents the blows of life, the “impediments” which tends to threat the lovers longing to unite all because of their “true minds”. But, real love successfully stands the test of time and guides the course of life just like the pole star guiding a lost ship in the uncharted ocean. In this sense, the value of true love is inestimable like the pole star whose altitude can be determined but, its worth remains immeasurable.
Question 3.
Describe the concept of time and love in Sonnet 116.
Answer:
Almost all of Shakespeare’s sonnets are depressively obsessed with the triumph of love over time. True love as the bard views is ageless since it exists outside the realm of time. Love can only be considered real if every obstacle can be fought triumphantly. Shakespeare openly condemns love which yields to time. This is evident when he Claims that love is “not Time’s fool”.
Time has no influence over love. Though “rosy lips and cheeks” symbolizing the boisterous youth of a lady, falls prey to time’s sickle, yet love continues to exist as it has nothing to do with physical beauty. True love however is transcendental. It is after all the attachment of mind which matters instead of physical attachment. Hence, true love is ageless.
It does not change with hours and weeks. Instead, remains loyal and devoted till the dreadful day of judgment. The poet however is so convinced about what true love is that he says that he would not have written a single word in favour of love; nor people would have been in love: “If this be error and upon me prov’d, / I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.”
Sonnet-116 Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1.
When marriage is not a barrier?
a. When partners are affluent
b. When partners are physically intimate
c. When partners are mentally attached
d. When the partners are willing to get married
Answer:
c. When partners are mentally attached
Question 2.
Which among the following statement is true?
a. Love is true when lovers changes with time
b. Love endures all impediments and yet remains steady
c. True love is nothing but a myth
d. Love vanishes with blows of life
Answer:
b. Love endures all impediments and yet remains steady
Question 3.
True love is like pole star because
a. Pole star changes its position
b. Pole star is shaken by tempest
c. Pole star remains fixed in one particular position
d. Pole star misleads a directionless ship
Answer:
c. Pole star remains fixed in one particular position
Question 4.
What is meant by star to every wandering bark?
a. A star misleads a directionless ship
b. A star is followed by ship
c. Pole star aids a directionless ship to find its way
d. A wandering ship guides a star
Answer:
c. Pole star aids a directionless ship to find its way
Question 5.
Time is fancied as a ………. in the poem
a. Gleaner
b. Cobbler
c. Blacksmith
d. Reaper
Answer:
d. Reaper
Question 6.
What is immeasurable of a pole star?
a. Altitude
b. Worth
c. Size
d. Position
Answer:
b. Worth
Question 7.
What actually is time’s fool?
a. Love
b. True mind
c. Physical beauty
d. None of the above
Answer:
c. Physical beauty
Question 8.
What isn’t time’s fool?
a. Rosy lips and cheeks
b. Mind
c. True love
d. None of the above
Answer:
c. True love
Question 9.
If love is not about true mind the poet would not have……….
a. Fallen in love
b. Written a word about it
c. Encouraged people to fall in love
d. Asked people to marry
Answer:
b. Written a word about it
Question 10.
People still fall in love since
a. They want to marry
b. They can’t stay alone
c. True love exist
d. It is a beautiful experience
Answer:
c. True love exist
Sonnet-116 Poem Summary
Sonnet-116 Poem Introduction
Sonnet 116 is a well known poem in the entire sequence. The definition of love which Shakespeare forwards in this sonnet has become a yardstick of what true love means. Love can be labelled as true only when it shows the power to overcome every “impediment” that comes in its way.
True love however is constant, immortal and continues to exist even when physical beauty falls prey to time’s sickle. Such conviction goads the bard to compose the poem and glorify true love.
Sonnet-116 Poem Summary
The speaker disapproves any sort of interference amidst true love. After all, pure love conquers all barriers which come on its way and still remains loyal and committed forever. Love ceases to become true if it changes with the change of time or with the change in the loved one. In other words, real love doesn’t disappear even when the loved one removes affection.
Real love continues to survive amidst all odds and is always steady and firm. The storms of life can never influence true love all because of its firmness. In fact, true love seems to be like the pole star which never changes its position in the night sky. Just as the pole star guides a lost ship, real love too guides the course of life. In this sense, the value of true love is inestimable like the pole star whose altitude can be determined but, its worth remains immeasurable.
True love is ageless as time has no influence over it. The speaker personifies time as a Grim Reaper, in long robe, carrying a sickle. Just as a reaper reaps crops with his sickle, time destroys the lustrous beauty of a person. The rosy lips and cheeks thus, come within time’s blow but true love endures because it is transcendental.
True love does not change with hours and weeks. Instead, continues remaining loyal and devoted till the dreadful day of judgment. If such conviction proves to be wrong, the poet would not have written a single word. Even people wouldn’t have been in love if true love isn’t what the poet claims it to be.
Sonnet-116 Poem Paraphrase
Stanza I :
The speaker disapproves any sort of interference amidst true love. After all true love conquers all obstacles which come on its way and remains loyal and devoted forever. Love ceases to become true if it changes with the change of time or with the change in the loved one. In other words, real love doesn’t disappear even when the loved one remove affection. Real love continues to survive amidst all odds.
Stanza II :
True love is always steady and firm. The storms of life can never influence true love all because of its firmness. In fact, true love seems to be like the pole star which never changes its position in the night sky. Just as the pole star guides a lost ship, real love too guides the course of life. In this sense, the value of true love is inestimable like the pole star whose altitude can be determined but, its worth remains immeasurable.
Stanza III :
True love is ageless as time has no influence over it. Time however is fancied as a Grim Reaper, in long robe, carrying a sickle. Just as a reaper reaps crops with his sickle, time destroys the lustrous beauty of a person. The rosy lips and cheeks thus, come within time’s blow but true love continues to exist as it is beyond physical. True love does not change with hours and weeks. Instead, continues remaining loyal and devoted till the dreadful day of judgment.
Couplet:
If the nature of true love advocated by the poet is wrong then he would not have written a single word. Even no man would ever have been in love if true love isn’t what the poet claims in this poem.
Sonnet-116 Poem Annotations with Comments
Stanza I:
The marriage of true minds : refers to the attachment of two minds in
Admit impediments : allow interference
Let me not …. Impediments : the speaker disapproves any sort of interference amidst true love. After all true love conquers all obstacles which come on its way
Love is not love : love ceases to become true
Which alters …….. finds : true love never changes with the change of time
Bends with……. remove : true love never changes when it finds changes in the loved one.
Comment:
The marriage of true minds: Shakespeare defines the ideal relationship as the marriage of true minds; i.e. the deep attachment of two minds. The expression however is based upon the Christian marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer: if any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.”
Stanza II.
O no! : true love doesn’t change or expire.
It is … mark : true love is always steady and firm.
That looks ….. tempests: true love has courage to face and endure the storms of life
never shaken : never be terrorised
star : refers to the pole star
bark : ship
wandering bark : ship which becomes directionless
worth : value
height : altitude
whose worth … be taken : whose value ¡s inestimable although its altitude can be determined.
Comment:
It is the star to every wand ring bark: The speaker tells what love is through the metaphor of a guiding star to lost ships. Just as a pole star guides a lost ship, love too guides the course of life. Moreover, true love remains steady like pole star even amidst all odds. The constancy of true love is thus highlighted in this verse-line.
Stanza III.
Time’s fool : something that exists for a short period only
Love’s….fool : time has no influence over true ¡oie. It cannot destroy true love which remains for life long.
Rosy lips and cheeks : youthful beauty
sickle’s : scythe
bending sickle’s : this Is a traditional picture of the Grim Reaper.
Within his …. compass : time is personified as a reaper in long robe, carrying a sickle
Though rosy lips…. come : though beauty fades in time as rosy lips and cheeks come within time’s blow
Alters : change
Love alters … weeks : Love does not change with hours and weeks.
But bears it out: love remains loyal and devoted
to the edge of doom : love remains steady till the last point of the doomsday, when the whole creation will be destroyed. The reference to ‘doom” refers to the Catholic conviction of the doomsday.
Comment:
Love’s not Time’s fool, …. compass come : Shakespeare’s belief that time has no influence over true love is established in these lines. True love is ageless. Even when one grows old, love continues to exists though the physical beauty falls prey to time’s sickle. Shakespeare believes that It is the constancy that binds together the two mutually loving persons.
Within his bending sickle’s compass come : The image of time carrying a sickle brings to the mind the image of the Grim Reaper. The Image how ever is drawn from the traditional myth of Cronus a harvest god, in long robes, bearing a scythe.
Lines 13 to 14: (Couplet)
This : refers to the nature of true love advocated by the poet.
This be error : if the conviction of true love being ageless can be proved to be wrong
I never writ : the poet would not have written a word
no man …… Iov’d : no man can ever have been in love
Comment :
The sonnet makes a dramatic and fairly strong final remark. The poet is in a way confirmed that true love is always ageless and can lead mankind to a meaningful and happy life. If true love would have been a myth, he wouldn’t have wasted time writing about it and no one would have fallen in love.