Allliteration in Shakespeare's Sonnet 71

A detailed Summary of Allliteration in Shakespeare's Sonnet 71


Poetic devices are often utilized by authors to emphasize and clarify their overall theme. One such device is alliteration, where a beginning sound of a word is employed more than once in a line. Shakespeare presents alliteration as the most important tool to understanding his moral in sonnet 71. In this poem, he transcends the potent message that he is not to be mourned when he dies and thereafter. Through his exploitation of alliteration, Shakespeare gives emphasis to certain images and conveys rhythm to his readers to better facilitate the message in sonnet 71.

The first quatrain of this poem presents to the reader graphic images that help to bring about a mindset. "Than thou shall hear the surly sullen bell," clearly invokes a mood of sadness. The alliteration of the "s" sound is profound in seizing the reader's focus and from it, one can imagine a church bell. This bell tolls only after a funeral a


Rhythm is also conveyed to a reader of sonnet 71 with the use of alliteration. Line 3 states "Give warning to the world that I am fled." Here, the "w" sound repetition gives a flow to the poem in hopes that his reader will understand its true meaning. Life is rhythmic: a person is born, lives and dies. Shakespeare is not unlike everyone else - he too will die. However, he wants his friend and loved one not to be filled with unhappiness because of his death will be part of his life. Lines 5 and 6 further add to the rhythmic nature of this poem by exploiting the "r" sound. Again, the poem has a beat to it, much like life has a certain pulse to it. One day Shakespeare's beat will stop, yet life will keep moving forward and keep 'beating', as those still living should. Finally, the line "But let your love even with my life decay" demonstrates phonemic repetition with the "l" sound. The tempo in this is appar

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Approximate Word count = 612
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

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