Poetry Essay 1

Salman Zafar
Principles of Literary Study: Poetry
Professor I.
Essay 1: February 19th 2015

Sonnet 12 The use of imagery and figurative language in poetry can be used to add complexity and depth to the plot and overall tone of a poem. Often times an author will incorporate poetic devices in order to stimulate the senses of the reader in a nuanced manner that further enhances the message or theme of the poem. Similarly in Sonnet 12, Shakespeare’s use of poetic devices is used in conjunction with the actual lyrics to enhance the idea of the passage of time. Starting from the title (the number “12”) the reader is already exposed to the complex way in which the author alludes to time. Furthermore the use of imagery and figurative language is used to help give the reader a clearer understanding of the author’s own emotions and psychological conflicts with the passage of time.
It is effortless to deduct from reading of the poem that the passage of time is a major theme in this poem. Shakespeare talks about the swift passage of time and its crippling ability on all things. What is interesting to notice however is that in the very beginning of the poem he states, “When I do count the clock that tells the time” (line 1). The author incorporates alliteration in the last four words of the first line; “that”, “tells”, “the” and, “time”. All four letters begin with the letter “T”, and when read out loud can be argued to sound exactly like the ticking of a clock, which in other words represent to the reader the passage of time. What is further interesting is that the author used the word “clock” within the same line and is actually talking about the passing of time. By this use of alteration the author is able to add depth in the poem and create complexity.
Through the use of imagery the author seeks to juxtapose different themes, and give the reader a clearer understanding of the authors position with respect to these themes. Shakespeare uses imagery to parallel the themes of the passage of time and nature by combining the two and using the idea of day and night to represent a natural clock. In the second line of the poem Shakespeare writes “And see the brave day sunk in hideous night” (line 2). By talking about the passage of time in the first line and then using the imagery of day turning into night Shakespeare is able to parallel the two. Furthermore, the adjectives he uses to describe day and night are “brave” and “hideous”, respectively. By analyzing the author’s motives for doing so, we gain insight into his emotional and psychological conflict with the passage of time. It is important to notice that he uses a word with more negative connotations to describe the night (which represents the end of the day) in order to position the reader into the same perspective from which he speaks/writes.
From this new perspective the reader is able to gain insight into the desperation that the author seeks to impose on the former in relation to the passage of time. Now again through the use of imagery and figurative language the author seeks to parallel the theme of the passage of time to the themes of nature and human youth. He states “When I behold the violet past prime/ And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white” (lines 3-4). These lines seek to link together the themes of nature and human youth to the main theme of the passage of time. First the author uses the imagery of a plant that is past “prime” in order to show a sense of the decaying effect of time. Then in line 4, the author juxtaposes the themes of nature and humankind by using the image of a decaying flower (passage of time on nature) and then alluding to the natural process of hair turning white in old age (passage of time on human youth). Form this intuition the reader is now confidently able to pick up, through the detail of imagery and figurative language, the authors stress on the passage of time.
The structure of the poem is also noteworthy because the poem begins with the author pondering on the passage of time, “When I think of ... “ (line 1). After the author has effectively conveyed the notion of time’s eternal decaying effect, and the reader is able to pick up on the authors logical proposition, then the author begins with “Then of thy beauty do I question make” (line 9). He then continues to speak about the effect that time has on youth and formulates a solution to the reader. “And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence/ Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.” (lines 13-14). He ends the poem with the claim that the only way to triumph over the passage of time is by having children.
It is through the use of imagery, figurative language, and attention to detail that the author is able to impose on the reader this sense of urgency. By positioning the reader in such a manner the author is able to not only add complexity to the poem but also enhance the affect of the volta/couplet towards the end of the poem.