THEMES IN THE POEM

LOVE VERSUS TIME

The speaker of the sonnet speaks about the durability of love against the actions of time
throughout the sonnet. The very first argument that the speaker makes is that true love is not
the love that changes with time.
Time has the ability to change a lot of things as it passes. It has the ability to age a child through
the years and make him/her an older person. It even chariots him/her to his/her grave. It is the
same time that changes a seed into a large tree and then ages it towards extinction. In the
same manner, almost everything in this world is unable to withstand the tides of time. As time
passes by, everything changes shape and moves toward decline.
However, the speaker claims that true love has the ability to stand tough in the face of forces of
time. No matter how great time is, true love always succeeds in defeating it. The obvious
elements of love, like red lips and glowing cheeks, do fade away with time. The beauty of the
beloved does not remain the same. However, true love is not dependent on these things. It
thrives even when all the beauty is lost because it stays in the heart, which never alters.
THE CONCEPT OF TRUE LOVE
The sonnet seems to be an argumentative essay on the topic of true love. The speaker offers
an argument after argument regarding the concept of true love in the whole sonnet. He/she says
that true love is not limited to the frame of physical time. It surpasses such boundaries and lies
way beyond the reach of worldly forces. When worldly forces are trying to lead the boats of our
lives astray, true love stands as the North Star to guide us through. It can help us in our fight
against the elements of nature.

Moreover, true love is fixed and bright like a star. It does not move around like other heavenly
bodies. Instead, it endures every difficulty and goes on to survive till the doomsday. True love is
also a guiding star for the wandering souls. It helps the wandering souls in steering their ships in
the right direction and get ashore.

LOVE AS A SOURCE OF GUIDANCE

Although the dominant portion of the sonnet argues about how love is a superior force to time,
the poet has also provided another quality of true love. This quality is the ability to love to lead
the wandering humans in the world. There are two analogies that attribute the quality of
guidance to true love.

The first analogy appears in the fifth line, where love is compared with a lighthouse. A
lighthouse is meant to help ships to find their way in the sea. They usually become useful when
the ships are caught in the middle of the sea during a storm. In such situations, the lighthouse
guides them towards the shore. Similarly, true love stands unshaken when all the reference
points of one's life are lost. It is true love that guides a person to safety at such times.
The second analogy is in the seventh line, where true love is compared with the North Star. The
North Star helps ships in navigation during the night time. So, when the life of a person is
immersed in darkness, true love helps him/her to navigate through the difficult times,
Long Answer Question:
Q1.According to the speaker in sonnet116, what are the essential
elements of true love?
According to the speaker in Sonnet 116, there are several essential
elements of true love. The speaker begins by stating that true love is not
easily influenced or affected by external circumstances: "Let me not to the
marriage of true minds / Admit impediments." True love remains constant
and steadfast, even in the face of change: "Love is not love / Which alters
when it alteration finds" It does not yield to separation or distance: "Or
bends with the remover to remove.!"
The speaker describes true love as an "ever-fixed mark" that remains
unshaken in the midst of storms and challenges: "That looks on tempests
and is never shaken." It serves as a guiding light, like a star that leads lost
ships to their destinations: "It is the star to every wand'ring bark" True
love's value is immeasurable, transcending mere physical attributes:
"Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken."
The speaker also asserts that true love is not subject to the passage of
time: "Love's not Time's fool" It does not fade or diminish with the aging
process: "Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks' Instead, true
love endures until the very end, defying the limits of mortality: "But bears
it out even to the edge of doom."
In conclusion, according to the speaker in Sonnet 116, the essential
elements of true love are unwavering constancy, resilience in the face of
challenges, transcendence of physical attributes, and endurance beyond
the constraints of time and mortality. (5)
1. The speaker rejects the idea of admitting impediments to the marriage
of true minds in Sonnet 116 because..... he believes that genuine love
should be free from external constraints or societal norms. True love, in
his view, transcends any obstacles and remains steadfast despite
challenges. 1 mark each
2. The speaker refers to love as an "ever-fixed mark' in Sonnet 116
because....by describing love as an "ever-fixed mark' the speaker means
that true love is an unwavering and unchanging point of reference in the
midst of life's storms and uncertainties. It serves as a constant guide and
source of stability for those in love.
3. The speaker asserts that love is not subject to Time's influence
because......he believes that true love is not bound by the limitations of time and
does not alter or fade with the passing of days or years. Love, in his view,
endures beyond the constraints of mortality.
4.The speaker downplays the significance of physical appearance in true
love in Sonnet 116 because.....he states that love is "not Time's fool" and
does not change with the fading beauty of "rosy lips and cheeks" He
emphasizes that genuine affection looks beyond superficial attributes,
focusing instead on the enduring emotional connection between two
individuals.

5. The speaker challenges conventional views of romantic love in the

Renaissance period through Sonnet 116 because...he presents a
concept of love that is constant, enduring, and free from the influence of
external factors.

Question: How does the speaker in Sonnet 116 challenge conventional views of
romantic love during the Renaissance period and what aspects of true love does he
emphasize in contrast?

Answer: In Sonnet 116, the speaker challenges conventional views of romantic love
prevalent during the Renaissance period by presenting a steadfast and unyielding
conception of true love. Unlike the popular courtly love tradition that idealized the
beloved and placed them on a pedestal, the speaker emphasizes the equality of "true
Question: How does the speaker in Sonnet 116 challenge conventional views of
romantic love during the Renaissance period and what aspects of true love does he
emphasize in contrast?

Answer: In Sonnet 116, the speaker challenges conventional views of romantic love
prevalent during the Renaissance period by presenting a steadfast and unyielding
conception of true love. Unlike the popular courtly love tradition that idealized the
beloved and placed them on a pedestal, the speaker emphasizes the equality of true

minds' in the union of love, rejecting any impediments to its expression. He staunchly
declares, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments defying the
societal norms that often dictated whom one could love.

During the Renaissance, love was often seen as fickle and transient, subject to the
whims of time and circumstances. However, the speaker asserts that true love is an
"ever-fixed mark" that remains constant amidst life's changes and challenges. He
refutes the notion that love alters when confronted with alteration, affirming that
genuine love endures, "even to the edge of doom."

Furthermore, the Renaissance era celebrated physical beauty as a central aspect of

love. Yet, the speaker contends that true love is not contingent on rosy lips and cheeks
but instead looks beyond the superficial. He describes love as a guiding star for
wandering souls, suggesting that its worth surpasses mere appearances.

In essence, the speaker challenges the conventional Renaissance views of love by

emphasizing the equality and constancy of true love. He elevates the significance of
enduringaffection and emotional connection over transient beauty, making a powerful
statement about the timeless nature of genuine love that transcends societal norms
and physical allure.