All aspects of the literary techniques in this sonnet suggest some type of internal conflict between the speaker and his interlocutor. The question immediately arises then, who is the interlocutor? To whom is the speaker addressing his sonnet? Obviously it is an internal dialogue that the speaker is rehearsing, and therefore the interlocutor is himself. Although there is some hint to an interlocutor other than the speaker in the last couplet where it says °impute me,± the bulk of the poem functions as an interior monologue within the speaker. Not

The seemingly simple beginning phrases such as °my play¯s last scene,± °my pilgrimage¯s last mile,± and °my race± suggest some kind of journey or course that the speaker is taking. According to The Merriam Webster Dictionary, 50th Edition, the words °play,± °pilgrimage,± and °race± have similar meanings. °Play± can be defined as the course of a stage performance, °pilgrimage± is a journey of a pilgrim to a holy place as an act of devotion, and °race± is an onward course as of time or life. These words are consecutively diminishing units of experience, which suggest the speaker¯s anxiety at time¯s dwindling end. However, the so-called journey that the speaker is emphasizing three-fold is constricted, which can be derived from the following words, °pace,± °span,± and °minute.± A °pace± is a measure of speed, a °span± is a limited portion of space, and a °minute± is a measure of time. The speaker, at the same time that he is embracing life¯s journey, is also acknowledging the idea that such a life is limited. The greatest of these limitations is death. An interesting word that is given more punctuation with an initial caesura is the word °idly.± This word means indifference, or being inactive. The speaker is suggesting that he is taking a passive role through his life as the °heavens appoint/ [his] pilgrimage¯s last mile.±

The sonnet, which is iambic pentameter, can be placed somewhere in between the Italian/Petrarchan model and the Spenserian or English/Shakespearean model. Like Sir Philip Sidney, this speaker modifies the Italian/Petrarchan model to express his English nationality. The first octave is of the Italian form, following the pattern of °abba, abba,± but the sonnet then ends with a quatrain and couplet, using the English form of °cdcd, ee.± This particular sonnet raises a question in the octave and the resolution appears in the sestet, and as in most English/Shakespearean sonnets it is clear that the speaker has yet to establish his own opinion and position on his sonnet form, which can be generalized to his beliefs on life and death.

only is the choice of interlocutor significantly different from the traditional sonnet form, where it is usually a yearned for lover, but the actual form of this sonnet is also ambiguous.

The speaker believes that he is a stranger in a strange place no matter how comfortably he may have settled on earth. The use of the word °pilgrimage± in the second line alludes to this idea as well. The word comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which is foreigner, or on

Some common words found in the essay are:
Judeo-Christian God, William Shakespeare¯s, Philip Sidney, , Webster Dictionary, Garden Eden, Jesus Christ, Spenserian English/Shakespearean, idea death, life death, body soul, initial caesura, home heaven, °that face±, sonnet speaker, pilgrimage¯s mile±, speaker believes, °ever-waking part±,
Approximate Word count = 1711
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)