Question

Explain the comparisons used by William Shakespeare to describe his aging body.

Answer 1

— If a year is divided into four seasons — spring, summer, autumn and winter — the poet compares his stage of life to the second last season before the end of the year i.e. autumn.

— Secondly, he uses the stages of a day i.e. morning, noon, evening, night — compares himself to be in the evening stage before night closes up everything in sleep.

— Thirdly he uses the image of fire with four stages — fuel, flame, ember and ash; puts himself in the ember stage to represent his aging body before death.