Compare and contrast Shakespeare’s sonnet116 with Elizabeth Jennings’s ‘One Flesh’

The first 200 words of this essay...

Compare and contrast Shakespeare's sonnet116 with Elizabeth Jennings's 'One Flesh'

Both these poems are about love and marriage. The sonnet 116 was written in the 16th Century and One Flesh was written in the 20th Century. Back in Shakespeare's time people were more optimistic about love since had a shorter life expectancy so the love of the people remain strong. In comparison the people in the 20th Century have a longer life expectancy so they might get bored of each other's presence so the love and passion which they once had will fade away. The two poems have a contrasting view about love.

The tone of the poets are quite different. Shakespeare feels optimistic about love and he is quite convinced that he is right:

'If this be error and upon me proved'

'I never writ, nor no man ever loved'

He also feels that love is life long and it does not get affected as time passes:

'Loves not time's fool...' and

'Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks'

Shakespeare makes use of alliteration:

'Within his bending sickle's compass come.'

This has an effect on the cutting sound