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Questions and Answers
What is the speaker comparing themselves to in the line 'Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang'?
What is the speaker comparing themselves to in the line 'Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang'?
The speaker is comparing themselves to bare ruined choirs where birds used to sing.
In the poem, what does 'Death's second self' refer to?
In the poem, what does 'Death's second self' refer to?
Death's second self refers to the night that takes everything away.
What is the significance of the metaphor 'glowing of such fire' in the poem?
What is the significance of the metaphor 'glowing of such fire' in the poem?
The significance is that the speaker's fire of youth is now reduced to ashes.
How does the speaker's use of 'glowing of such fire' contribute to the theme of mortality in the sonnet?
How does the speaker's use of 'glowing of such fire' contribute to the theme of mortality in the sonnet?
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Explain how the line 'To love that well which thou must leave ere long' ties back to the overall theme of the sonnet.
Explain how the line 'To love that well which thou must leave ere long' ties back to the overall theme of the sonnet.
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Study Notes
'Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang'
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The speaker is comparing themselves to a ruined church (choir)
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The church is symbolic of a place where beauty and life once existed
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The comparison suggests the speaker feels like a remnant of a once-vibrant and hopeful past
'Death's second self'
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This refers to the 'grave' which is a physical manifestation of death.
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'Death's second self' emphasizes the inevitability of death and its power
'glowing of such fire'
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This metaphor illustrates the ephemeral nature of life
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It refers to the fleeting nature of human existence compared to the vastness of time and the reality of death
Theme of Mortality
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By using the image of 'glowing of such fire' the speaker highlights how life is like a flame that burns bright but ultimately fades
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It emphasizes the brevity of human existence, reminding the reader that death will eventually consume life.
'To love that well which thou must leave ere long'
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The speaker urges the reader to fully appreciate the present moment and to love deeply despite knowing the inevitable reality of death.
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The line reinforces the themes of mortality and carpe diem (seize the day) and the inevitability of loss.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare with this quiz. See how well you remember the themes and imagery in this classic poem.
