Essay - Unchanging Love Early in the Sixteenth Century, A New Form...

Unchanging Love

Early in the sixteenth century, a new form of poetry, strict ***** structure and form, was imported into English from Italy. The sonnet, a word derived ***** the It*****lian "sonetto" meaning "little song," became a preferred poetic form, particularly for those who wished to declare their love for another. William Shakespeare, widely known ***** his dramatic works, is also the most ***** known sonnet writer. His *****, "Sonnet 116" like so many others, speaks of his understanding of love.

The sonnet begins with the speaker expressing his wisdom on the topic of love. He will not admit that he knows *****hing ***** ***** subject. Shakespeare understands that love is not something that will not last or fades with change. Indeed, he states ***** true ***** never fades or changes. It holds fast even in the wildest st*****m. Shakespeare understands that no one really knows the ***** value of love, though some may claim to understand just how high love can go. Love is ***** changed by time; it lasts through death, beyond Judgement Day. Shakespear concludes ***** an assertion ***** if he ***** be proven wrong, that his underst*****ding of love is false, t*****n all his writing, and all ***** love has been in vain, and it would have been better that it never existed.

Shakespeare chose ***** use the form of a sonnet, partly because it ***** such a popular form, but it is possible ***** the ***** ***** reflected his ideas ***** love. The sonnet is very strict in form. One can not deviate from it and have it remain a sonnet. In the same way, love can not ***** and still be called love, according to ***** poet.

********** are written with fourteen lines, in Iambic Pentameter. Each line contains five feet, each foot being compr*****ed of an unstressed syllable followed ***** a stressed one. ***** sound ***** the words pl*****ced in t***** type of rhythm reflects ***** ***** of a he*****rtbeat. Since the heart is believed to be the place of origin for love, it is appropriate that he uses it in th***** poem. The rhyme scheme of a sonnet follows the pattern abab cdcd efef gg. Three quatrains followed by a rhyming couplet. ***** is cons*****tent ***** *****s ***** is consistent.

Shakespeare very strongly ***** in his understanding of love. ***** goes so far as to say ***** if he is wrong, nothing he ever wrote matters. But Shakespeare's idea of love, and my own idea ***** love are quite d*****ferent. Shakespeare views love as something that ***** not change. It is consistent. I ********** that love is ***** fixed, but fluid. It is al*****s changing, both in degree ***** kind. Shakespeare asserts that a ***** that does change is not real. I believe ***** opposite. A love that is resistant to ***** is ***** real. ***** love ***** can not sustain change is not real love.

Shakespeare's understanding of ***** is certainly black and white. There is no room for any change