Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare
Introduction to the poem
Sonnet 73 is one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated poems from his collection of 154 sonnets. It belongs to the Fair Youth sequence (sonnets 1-126), which consists of poems addressed to an unnamed young man. This particular sonnet explores the themes of ageing, mortality, and love with remarkable depth and emotional power.
Key Information
- Poetic form: Shakespearean sonnet
- Time period: 16th Century
- Speaker: An ageing lover
- Central message: The enduring power of love can triumph over the melancholy of mortality during old age
The full text
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
Sonnet structure and form
Sonnet 73 follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure. Understanding this structure is crucial for appreciating how Shakespeare develops his argument across the poem.
Essential Sonnet Structure
- Three quatrains (four-line stanzas) + one final rhyming couplet (two lines)
- Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
- Meter: Written in iambic pentameter (except line 8, which begins with a stressed syllable to emphasise "Death")
- 14 lines total
The structure allows Shakespeare to develop three extended metaphors in the quatrains before delivering a powerful conclusion in the final couplet.
Major themes
The poem weaves together several interconnected themes that work together to create its powerful emotional impact.
Ageing and mortality
The poem presents ageing as a natural but melancholy process. The speaker uses three powerful metaphors to describe different stages of decline, from the gradual loss of youth to the final approach of death.
Love and relationships
Rather than dwelling on despair, the poem suggests that awareness of mortality actually strengthens love. The knowledge that time is limited makes relationships more precious and meaningful.
The power of time
Time appears as both destroyer and teacher - it takes away youth and life, but it also deepens understanding and appreciation of love.
Detailed analysis by sections
Lines 1-4: The autumn metaphor
Worked Analysis: The Autumn Metaphor
"That time of year thou mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang / Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, / Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang."
Key interpretations:
- "Yellow leaves, or none, or few" - suggests the final stages of autumn when most leaves have fallen
- "Boughs which shake against the cold" - emphasises the harshness and vulnerability of old age
- "Bare ruined choirs" - compares leafless branches to empty church choirs, suggesting both loss and former beauty
- "Where late the sweet birds sang" - recalls happier, more vibrant times of youth
Overall effect: This metaphor establishes ageing as a time of emptiness and coldness, but also hints at past beauty and joy.
Lines 5-8: The twilight metaphor
Worked Analysis: The Twilight Metaphor
"In me thou see'st the twilight of such day / As after sunset fadeth in the west; / Which by and by black night doth take away, / Death's second self, that seals up all in rest."
Key interpretations:
- "Twilight of such day" - represents the gradual fading of life
- "After sunset fadeth in the west" - shows the slow, inevitable approach of darkness
- "Black night doth take away" - night becomes an active force removing the last light
- "Death's second self" - directly connects night with death, calling it death's representative
- "Seals up all in rest" - presents death as bringing peaceful sleep
Progression: This metaphor shows the movement from the seasonal cycle (autumn) to the daily cycle (twilight to night).
Lines 9-12: The dying fire metaphor
Worked Analysis: The Dying Fire Metaphor
"In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire, / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, / As the death-bed, whereon it must expire, / Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by."
Key interpretations:
- "Glowing of such fire" - suggests there's still some life/passion remaining
- "On the ashes of his youth" - youth has already been consumed and turned to ash
- "Death-bed, whereon it must expire" - the fire lies on its own deathbed
- "Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by" - the fire is consumed by the very fuel (youth) that once fed it
Powerful paradox: This metaphor shows how life consumes itself - we are gradually used up by the very act of living.
Lines 13-14: The concluding couplet
The final couplet represents a crucial shift in the poem's perspective and tone.
The Transformative Conclusion
"This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, / To love that well, which thou must leave ere long."
- "This thou perceiv'st" - the beloved understands and sees the speaker's mortality
- "Makes thy love more strong" - awareness of mortality strengthens rather than weakens love
- "Love that well" - love deeply and completely
- "Which thou must leave ere long" - acknowledges that separation through death is inevitable
Transformation: This conclusion changes the melancholy tone into something more hopeful - the recognition that love becomes more precious when we understand its temporary nature.
Literary techniques
Shakespeare employs several sophisticated literary techniques to create the poem's emotional power and structural coherence.
Extended Metaphors
Shakespeare uses three extended metaphors that progress in intensity:
- Autumn (seasonal cycle - slow, natural decline)
- Twilight (daily cycle - faster approach of darkness)
- Dying fire (immediate cycle - final moments of life)
Each metaphor becomes more immediate and intense, moving from yearly to daily to momentary timeframes.
Imagery and Symbolism
- Nature imagery: leaves, trees, sunset, fire - connects human mortality to natural cycles
- Religious imagery: "choirs" - suggests spiritual dimensions of life and death
- Colour imagery: "yellow leaves," "black night" - visual progression from warmth to darkness
Tone and Mood
The poem moves from melancholy contemplation to optimistic acceptance. The pensive tone of the first twelve lines gives way to a more hopeful message about love's endurance.
About William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. His literary achievements continue to influence writers and readers centuries after his death.
Key Biographical Information
- Born in Stratford-upon-Avon and died there at age 52
- Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and other poems
- His career flourished in London between 1585-1592
- Known for both comedies (early works) and tragedies (later works) including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth
- Often called "England's National Poet"
- His sonnets explore themes of love, beauty, mortality, and time
Key Points to Remember
- Sonnet 73 uses three extended metaphors (autumn, twilight, dying fire) to explore ageing and mortality
- The poem follows traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme with three quatrains plus a concluding couplet
- The central message is that awareness of mortality makes love stronger, not weaker
- It belongs to the Fair Youth sequence, addressing an unnamed young man
- The progression of metaphors shows increasing intensity and immediacy as they move from seasonal to daily to momentary cycles