Poem Study Guide: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds

Study Notes

Poem Overview

"Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds" is known as Sonnet 116.
It discusses the enduring and unchanging nature of true love.

Author Information

Written by William Shakespeare, who lived during the Elizabethan Era (1564-1616).
He was obligated to be part of the Church of England and left school at 13.
Married Anne Hathaway and had three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.
Notable member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
Built the Globe Theater in 1599 on the Thames River.
Prolific writer with 37 plays and 154 sonnets, often during the closures caused by the Black Plague.

Themes and Main Ideas

The poem opens with a definition of love as perfect and everlasting.
Asserts that love remains unchanged despite the passage of time, unlike physical beauty.
Emphasizes that true love is not affected by external circumstances.

Tone and Mood

The mood reflects hope and happiness related to everlasting love.
The tone conveys an important and caring attitude towards love.

Poetic Form and Structure

Written as a Shakespearean sonnet: 14 lines with typically 10 syllables.
Organized into three quatrains followed by a rhyming couplet.
Follows an abab cdcd efef rhyme scheme in quatrains.

Speaker Perspective

The speaker represents Shakespeare's understanding of love, highlighting its true essence.

Style and Literary Devices

Utilizes metaphors, such as comparing love to "the star to every wandering bark."
Employs allusions to marriage ceremonies and the Book of Common Prayer.
Sounds indicate a tonal shift in phrases like "O no!" suggesting a change from cynicism to vibrancy.
Vivid imagery illustrates love's resilience through phrases like "ever-fixed mark" and references to storms.
References to time and death through allusions to the Grim Reaper and Judgement Day enhance the poem's depth.

Non-Fiction Source

Documented in the film "What is Love" by Jane Martin and Alex Mankiewicz.

Literary Criticism

Quang Tran argues that Sonnet 116 stands out due to its personal perspective, highlighting Shakespeare's emotions rather than those of fictional characters.
Maya Lavi discusses the poem's detachment and idealization of love, presenting it as both unrealistic and deeply absorbing.

Description

This flashcard quiz helps you study the poem 'Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds' by William Shakespeare. Dive into the themes and intricacies of love as portrayed through the poem's verses. Perfect for literature students looking to enhance their understanding of Shakespearean poetry.