Учебное пособие 4 unit I. The renaissance 1485-1649

STYLISTIC ANALYSIS
The structure of the sonnet is not strictly conventional, i.e. it is not
divided into the octave and the sestet.
However it must be noted that the poet tackles the same theme (love) in
different ways.
Analysing the rhythmical pattern of the sonnet one may find some
deviations from the conventional scheme.
Note: 1) Rhythmical inversion in lines 1, 8, 9; 2) the cases where it is
possible to use spondee as an intensifier (an intensifying modifier of rhythm)
in lines 8, 12, 14.
Note that spondee emphasizes the blackness of the ghastly night, and the
contrast between its ugliness and the beauty of the vision, which «makes
black night beauteous and her old face new» (lines 8, 12).
Spondee in the epigrammatic line of the sonnet stresses. the poet’s
attitude towards the objects of his love, the intensity of his feelings which
deprives the poet of «quiet», rest both physical or mental.
Note that the imagery employed by the poet is none the less impressive
for being simple and realistic.

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106
The poet compares his train of thoughts with the journey of a pilgrim to
some sacred place: «For then my thoughts, from far where I abide, intend a
zealous pilgrimage to thee...» (lines 5, 6).
The metaphors «journey in my head» (line 3) and «pilgrimage» (line 6) as
well as the epithet «zealous» (line 6) are keyed to one purpose, namely, to
stress the poet’s longing for his beloved. Hence a long journey is the key
image here.
Note the use of synonyms «travel», «journey», «pilgrimage» in the
sonnet.
Pay attention to the fact that the sonnet opens with the inversion «Weary
with toil, I haste me to my bed....». This SD stresses the poet’s physical
exhaustion and his craving for rest. Note that the poet uses «work» in the first
case as the infinitive («to work my mind»), in the second case the word
«work» is a noun («when body’s work’s expired»).
This peculiar manipulation with words produces the effect of repetition
which brings out the contrast between the physical condition of the poet and
his mental state.
This contrast may be regarded as a kind of antithesis based on the use of
antonyms («mind»— «body»).
Developing his theme further the poet passes over to another set of
contrasting images; he describes the ghastly darkness of night and the shining
beauty of his vision («which... makes black night beauteous, and her old face
new»).
This contrast is revealed through various means. The intensity of darkness
is enhanced by the striking use of combinations which have the character of
oxymoron: «darkness which the blind do see», «sightless view».
The contrast between the ugliness of «ghastly night» and the beauty of the
poet’s vision is revealed most emphatically by the use of a sustained simile
(line 11) «which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night, makes black night
beauteous and her old face new».
Note that such adjectives as «black», «old», «new», «beauteous» opposed
to each other for the sake of contrast, acquire a great emotional force and
become epithets.
The epigrammatic lines of the sonnet sum up the idea of the poet, whose
overwhelming feeling for his beloved is revealed with a striking force.
The parallel constructions help to bring out the intensity of the poet’s
feelings.
Note the subtle use of antonyms («day»— «night») and contextual
antonyms («my limbs»— «my mind»). These linguistic means supported by
parallelism create the antithesis which culminates the whole sonnet.

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107
Sonnet 73
1. That time of year thou mayst in me behold
2. When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
3. Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
4. Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
5. In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
6. As after sunset fadeth in the west,
7. Which by and by black night doth take away,
8. Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.
9. In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire
10. That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
11. As the death-bed whereon it must expire
12.Consumed with that which it was nourish’d by.
13.This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong
14.To love that well which thou must leave ere long.