Grade: XI

Sonnet 116
- William Shakespeare

Line by line explanation

Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments

This means that the speaker doesn't want to acknowledge any obstacles that could come in the way
of a true and deep bond between two people

Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds,

If love changes when situations change, then it's not real love

Or bends with the remover to remove

if love ends just because someone wants it to end, then it's not true love

O no, it is an ever-fixed mark

Real love is like a permanent mala that doesn't change

That looks on tempests and is never shaken,

True love can face any challenges (tempests) and still remain firm and unshaken

It is the star to every wand ring bark,

The speaker compares love to a guiding star (pole star) for every lost ship, meaning love can guide
us when we are lost

Whose worth's unknown…taken

The value of love (like the pole star) can't be measured, even though we can measure its position
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come,

Love isn't fooled by time. Even though physical beauty (like rosy lips and cheeks) can fade with
time (represented by the sickle), love remains constant.

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

Love doesn't change with the passing of time.

But bears it out even to the edge of doom:

True love lasts until the end of time.

If this be error and upon me proved,

If someone can prove that what the speaker is saying about love is wrong,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Then the speaker is saying that he has never written anything, and no one has ever truly loved
(another way of seeing it is that since Shakespeare has written much, what he is saying is true and
cannot be proved otherwise).

Logic-based questions

(i) The poet has compared true love with a pole star because

Answer: the pole star is a consistent and unchanging point in the night sky, much like true love is
constant and unchanging.

(ii) According to the poet, love is not dependent on time because

Answer: true love does not alter with the passing hours and weeks. It remains steadfast and
enduring, even to the edge of doom

(iii) 'Sonnet 116' can be considered a romantic lyric because

Answer: it eloquently expresses deep and personal feelings about the nature of true love, which is
a common theme in romantic poetry.

(iv) False love is undependable because

Answer: it changes and alters when it finds alteration, meaning that it is not constant or stable like
true love is.

(v) Time has been personified as a grim reaper because

Answer: it is depicted with a 'bending sickle, a tool traditionally associated with the reaper, who
represents death and the passing of time.

(vi) The poet emphasises that if whatever he had said is proved to be wrong it means that he is not
a good writer because

Answer: his whole work and beliefs are centered on the constancy and power of love, and if this
proved incorrect, his entire body of work would be undermined.

(vii) True love is not restricted to this life because

Answer: it "bears it out even to the edge of doom" The love Shakespeare describes here is eternal,
surviving even the end of life.

(viii) True love is compared to a light-house since

Answer: like a lighthouse, true love is an ever-fixed mark that remains constant and unshaken,
even amidst the tempests and storms of life.

(is) The poet has concluded the poem with a rhyming couplet because

Answer: it provides a summary of the poem's central idea and offers a sense of finality and closure
to the piece. It also emphasizes the challenge that the poet puts forth, in a concise and memorable
way

(x) Time with 'a bending sickle represent a reaper because

Answer: in traditional imagery, a reaper uses a sickle to cut down crops, symbolizing the end of
life or the passage of time. Shakespeare uses this imagery to illustrate the destructive power of
time
Short answer questions

(i) Discuss the nature of love as enunciated by the poet.

Answer. The nature of love as enunciated by the poet in Sonnet 116 is one of constancy and
endurance. The poet asserts that true love does not change or fade with time or external pressures.
He metaphorically presents love as an ever-fixed mark and a guiding star that remains steadfast
amidst storms, serving as a consistent beacon for lost sailors. Love, according to the poet, is not
susceptible to time's destructive force, instead, it resists change even to the edge of doom.

(ii) Discuss the form and structure of the poem.

Answer: The form and structure of the poem is that of a Shakespearean sonnet, which typically
consists of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme (abab cdcd efef gg). The poem is divided into
three quatrains and a concluding couplet. Each line is written in iambic pentameter, a common
metrical form in English verse that consists of five iambic feet per line

(iii) Which form of love does the poet have in mind in this poem? Elaborate.

Answer. The poet seems to have in mind a form of love that transcends the physical or temporal
realm. This can be regarded as spiritual or eternal love. The 'marriage of true minds' mentioned in
the opening line suggests a deep, intellectual connection that goes beyond physical or fleeting
attractions. The poet repeatedly emphasizes the constancy and unchanging nature of this type of
love, further reinforcing its spiritual or eternal quality.

(iv) Comment on the concluding lines:

'If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. Explain in the context
of the poem.

Answer: in the concluding lines, the poet offers a challenge or a statement of conviction. If his
portrayal of love can be proven wrong, then he claims he has never written anything (implying all
his works are false), and that no man has ever truly loved. In the context of the poem, these lines
serve to emphasize the certainty and conviction with which the poet views his portrayal of love,
effectively reinforcing the immutability and constancy of true love.

(v) Write a note on the imagery used in the poem.

Answer: The imagery in the poem is both rich and powerful. The poet uses nautical imagery,
likening true love to a 'star to every wandering bark, suggesting it as a guiding force in turbulent
times. Another poignant image is that of Time personified as a reaper with a 'bending sickle, a
symbol of mortality and the passing of life. Despite Time's power, love remains undeterred, further
emphasizing its eternal nature

(vi) Why does the poet compare true love to a pole star? What importance does the comparison
hold in our times?

Answer: The poet compares true love to a pole star because, like the star, love serves as a constant
guide, never altering its position regardless of the changing circumstances in the context of our
times, this comparison holds significant importance as it underscores the enduring nature of love
amidst the rapidly changing and often turbulent modern world. It serves as a reminder that, much
like the pole star, true love should remain unchanging and constant, providing guidance and
stability in the face of adversity and change.

Long answer questions

(1) True love, as visualized in 'Sonnet 116' by Shakespeare, is an ideal form of love. Discuss with
close reference to the text.

Answer. True love, as visualized in ‘Sonnet 116' by Shakespeare, is indeed presented as an ideal
form of love, characterized by its constancy and unyielding strength. Shakespeare paints a picture
of love as an "ever-fixed mark" that remains unchanged, even in the face of significant obstacles
or shifts in circumstances. This love is compared to a star that guides "every wandering bark," an
image that further enhances its status as constant and unwavering. The ideal nature of this love is
also emphasized in its resilience against time, while physical beauty may fade with time, true love
is not "Time's fool" and does not alter with time's "brief hours and weeks" Finally, Shakespeare
boldly states that this love "bears it out even to the edge of doom," suggesting that true love endures
not just for a lifetime, but beyond, into eternity. Such a depiction elevates true love to a grand,
almost divine status, aligning it with the enduring and unchangeable forces of nature and the
universe

(ii) Comment on the significance of the line in modern context 'Love's not Time's fool.’

Answer: The line 'Love's not Time's fool' holds significant relevance in today's context. The
modern era, with its fast-paced and ever-changing nature, can often place enormous pressure on
relationships. However, this line from the sonnet serves as a reminder that genuine love isn't
swayed or undermined by the passage of time. Whether it be aging, changing circumstances, or
the trials and tribulations of life, true love remains constant and enduring This concept can
encourage modern readers to strive for relationships based on deep understanding, commitment,
and a connection that transcends the superficial and temporal aspects of love, such as physical
attractiveness or temporary infatuations.

(iii) The glorification of love in the sonnet seems to be exaggerated. Do you think so? Give reasons
to justify your viewpoint.

Answer. The glorification of love in the sonnet might seem exaggerated to some readers, mainly
because the depiction of love is so ideal and unwavering. However, it's essential to remember that
Shakespeare is discussing "true love' in its purest, most profound form. The sonnet attempts to
separate true love from other forms of affection or infatuation, which are more susceptible to
change and disruption. it is this love, constant and unshakeable, that the poet lauds. Although it
might seem lofty or unattainable, it serves as a benchmark, a paradigm of how profound and
enduring love can be. Moreover, the sonnet can also be seen as an exploration or contemplation
on the nature of love rather than a definitive guide to it. Hence, while it's opulent in its portrayal,
it might not be accurate to deem it exaggerated, as it serves the intended purpose of exploring the
ideal qualities of love