Poem Analysis – Sonnet 116

756 Words2 Pages

Poem Analysis – Sonnet 116

‘Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds’

Study the first 12 lines of the poem. Discuss how Shakespeare makes a

statement in the first and second lines, and then use lines 2-12 to

give examples which supports his viewpoints.

In the first two lines of the poem Shakespeare writes,

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments: love is not love

The first line shows that he thinks you should not marry unless you

are faithful. He says ‘let me not’ which means that he does not

approve of the untrue or unfaithful minds marrying. The second line

means that there will be obstacles in your way and you must be willing

to face or overcome them. Otherwise ‘love is not love’, or you will

not experience love at its most true. These first two lines show that

Shakespeare will go on to explore the idea of faithful or true love

and also the obstacles of marriage.

In the next two lines of the poem Shakespeare looks at the possibility

of somebody falling out of love with their partner.

Which alters when alteration finds

Or bend...

Open Document