The sonnet has 14
lines, divided into
three stanzas of four
lines each and a final
couplet.
The rhyme scheme is: a-b-a-b,
c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g
This sonnet follows the normal
structure of a sonnet which is to
change the mood at the end of
the sonnet using a rhyming
couplet.
Attitudes, themes, ideas
love is a mysterious force
"Whose worth's unknown",
implying love is priceless
Love is constant- metaphor "star"
love, like the stars in the night sky, can be
observed across the globe throughout time.
Love is not restricted by time or place, but
exists above all considerations.
The traditional idea of love and time being
enemies is explored briefly in Sonnet 116.
Shakespeare is clear about the positive virtues
of love: even when the "rosy lips and cheeks of
youth" fall victim to Time's "sickle"
Language
uses repeated pairs of
words: "love is not love",
"alters when it alteration
finds" and "remover to
remove"
These repeated words
suggest that they are a
loving couple
metaphors based on natural
elements, suggesting that love is
natural and an essential part of life.
"is the star to every wand'ring bark"
it's a fixed point of light in the sky - a
"star" - guiding a boat ("wand'ring
bark") lost at sea.
There are some opposites and negatives
used to stress the qualities of love by
saying what it is not: true love can
observe storms ("tempests") and not be
affected; "Love's not Time's fool".
The opening lines of the poem follow the
christian marriage vows ("the marriage of
true minds")
They also stress the idea that
love should be without
"impediments". Meaning true love
should be without fault.
"bears it out even to the edge of doom" This
suggests that love will always win over "doom"
(something bad)