Question

Describe a sonnet. How does Shakespeare develop the theme of his friend's praise as the living record of his memory in the sonnet using various poetic devices?

Answer 1

Sonnet in Italian means 'sonetto' which means a small or little song. In poetry, sonnet is a 14 line poem and is written in iambic pentameter. It has a specific rhyme scheme. 'Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments' is a perfect Shakespearean sonnet. This poem conforms to sonnets conventions and guidelines meticulously. There are fourteen lines in this poem. The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains of four lines each.In the three quatrains the poet establishes the theme or problem and, then resolves it in the last two lines, called couplet. The rhyme scheme of the quatrains is abab, cdcd, efef. The couplet has the rhyme scheme gg. So 'Not Marble....' fits to all the above mentioned parameters. The first three quatrains deal with the problem of transitory nature of world, and how his friend will become eternal in his verse. In the last two lines he resolves the problem by writing that his friend will live in this poem and dwell in lovers' eyes till the Judgement day.