Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare : Broad & Short Questions and Answers # 4th Semester WBCHSE

*****How does William Shakespeare use images to symbolize aging and mortality?       6 Marks

          In his beautiful poem 'Sonnet 73' William Shakespeare uses three vivid imagery of Autumn, Twilight and a Dying Fire  to describe the theme of aging and the passage of time and death.

          The sonnet begins with the image of late autumn, where the leaves are yellowing and falling. It symbolizes the later stage of life when vitality begins to fade.

        The second quatrain compares life to twilight, the time between sunset and night. It represents the nearing end of the day, symbolizing the approach of death. 

   The last quatrain refers to a dying fire with glowing embers. It symbolizes the last moments of life, the fading warmth and light before the end.

        These three vital images create a powerful metaphor for aging and mortality, evoking a sense of melancholy but also a deeper appreciation for life.

*** Short Type Questions & Answers:                                                                             2 Marks

1)  What is the form of Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 ?

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 is an English Sonnet consisting of three quatrains (4 lines each) and a concluding couplet (last 2 lines) written in iambic pentameter. Its rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg.

2)  What is a Shakespearean sonnet?

 Shakespearean Sonnet is a poetry of 14 lines consisting of three quatrains (4 lines each) and a concluding couplet (last 2 lines).It's rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg.

3)  What is the very special technical quality of Shakespeare’s sonnet?

The very special technical quality of Shakespeare’s sonnet is the introduction of rhymed concluding couplet of two lines at the end of the poetry.

4)  Who is addressed to in Sonnet 73? / Who is referred to as 'thou' in Shakespeare's Sonnet 73?

Ans. In Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 the 'Fair Youth' is addressed / referred to here. Most probably he is the poet's beloved friend William Herbert, the Earl of Southampton.

5)  “That time of year thou mayst in me behold” – Who says this and to whom?

Ans. In his Sonnet 73, the poet, William Shakespeare says this to his beloved friend, the 'Fair Youth' most probably William Herbert, the Earl of Southampton.

6)  What does Shakespeare mean by “That time of year”? What does it stand for?

Ans. By “That time of year,” Shakespeare refers to late autumn or early winter. It stands for the later stage of life, symbolizing the old age and approach of death.

7)  What season is compared to the poet’s life stage in Sonnet 73?

Ans. In Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 73' the Late Autumn is compared to the poet’s life stage, symbolizing old age and decline, just before the coming of unavoidable death.

8) “When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang” – What do the yellow leaves symbolize in this line?

Ans. In late autumn the leaves turn yellow before falling down finally. Here 'yellow leaves' is a symbol of aging and the impending death.

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9) "Upon those boughs which shake against the cold” – What do boughs represent? / What shake against the cold in Shakespeare's Sonnet 73?

Ans. The boughs or the branches of tree shake against the cold, symbolizing the poet’s weak and shivering body due to old age and the impending death.

10) “Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang” – What does the expression ‘bare ruin’d choirs’ suggest?

Ans. The expression ‘bare ruin’d choirs’ suggests empty, leafless branches that were full of life and songs once symbolizing the loss of youth, vitality, and joy in the poet’s old age.

11) “In me thou seest the twilight of such day” – What does ‘twilight’ suggest here?

Ans. The word ‘twilight’ suggests the last stage of life as twilight comes before night. It symbolizes the approaching end of poet's life with fading light of his vitality and youth.

12) “In me thou seest the twilight of such day” – Explain the metaphor here.

Ans. Here the metaphor compares life to a day. Youth is like morning, old age is like twilight (the poet’s current stage), and death is night.

13) “As after sunset fadeth in the west” – What does ‘sunset’ indicate here?

Ans. The word ‘sunset’ indicates the decline of the poet’s youth and energy, strength and vitality, symbolizing the impending death just as sunset marks the end of the day.

14) “As after sunset fadeth in the west” – What does the word ‘fadeth’ suggest?

Ans. The word ‘fadeth’ suggests the gradual decline of the poet's youth and energy, showing how the vitality is slowly disappearing, just as the light fades after sunset.

15) “Which by and by black night doth take away,” – What does ‘black night’ refer to in this poem? What does the 'black night' take away and how?

Ans. In Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 73' the 'black night '  refers to death metaphorically. It takes away life silently, completely, irreversibly, like darkness consuming the remaining light after twilight.

16) What is called ‘Death’s second self’ in Sonnet 73?

Ans. In Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 sleeping is called ‘Death’s second self’, as it is similar to death, bringing temporary rest and darkness like death does permanently.

17) What ‘seals up all in rest’?

Ans. In Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 Death’s “second self”, Sleeping, seals up all in rest, but specifically death itself ultimately seals all life in eternal rest.

18) What symbolic element represents the speaker’s lost passion?

Ans. The glowing fire turning to ashes symbolizes the speaker’s / poet's lost passion and fading energy, strength and vitality in course of time.

19) What is consuming the speaker’s life force?

Ans. The inevitable Time, which nourished his life initially, is now consuming it completely and slowly bringing him closer to death.

20) “In me thou seest the glowing of such fire” – What comparison do you find here?

Ans. The line compares the poet’s fading life to a dying fire, burning low before going out. His youth, vitality, passion and strength are fading as he is very close to death.

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21)  What does the poet say about youth in Sonnet 73?

Ans. In Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 73' the poet implies that youth is full of beauty and vitality like spring or a strong fire. But gradually it is lost forever with the passage of time. Finally it is remembered nostalgically in old age.

22) “This thou perceiv’st” – Who will perceive and what?

Ans. In Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 73' the poet's beloved friend will perceive the signs of aging and approaching death and realize how time is taking away the poet’s youth, vitality, strength and passion.

23) What is the speaker’s attitude towards death by the end of the sonnet?

Ans. At the end of the Sonnet 73 the poet William Shakespeare accepts the inevitable and natural death calmly and wisely, realizing that awareness of the approaching death deepens love and makes life and relationships more valuable.

24) What is the primary message the poet conveys to the beloved in the concluding couplet?

Ans. The poet conveys that the awareness of his approaching death deepens love, making them more valuable and cherish their love more intensely before it ends.

25) Discuss the theme of Sonnet 73.

Ans. The main theme of Sonnet 73 is the passage of time and the approaching death. It shows how aging leads to loss of youth and strength, but also how this awareness deepens love and emotional connection.

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