Question

SUMMARY AND THEME OF THE POEM "NOT MARBLE NOR THE GILDED MONUMENTS(SONNET 55)" BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Answer 1

In the poem not marble nor gilded monuments the narrator Says the rich and powerful people built monuments and statuses in order to show the prosperity and wealth but he believes that this monuments and statues will get destroyed some day but the only thing that will be eternal will be the good thoughts and poems written and said by the narrator

he believes that his good deeds will be eternal

Answer 2

In this poem, Shakespeare tries to convey the message that nothing in this world can outlive his poetic verses,  be it marble or the monuments, that are covered with gold.

The monuments wear away with the passage of time but  his poetry written for his friend, will live longer than the stone monument which has been left uncared for.

Next he has  contrasted his verses with the ravages of time on monuments. The fighting, wars all overturn the monuments. They  get demolished forever and everybody forgets about them after sometime.

But neither Mars, the God of war, nor fire  can erase the written memory of his friend’s life. It will continue even after his death.

The future generations will also  admire him and he will live in the hearts of people till the doomsday, i.e., the day of the last judgement.