Dave Stevens

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Dave Stevens

Poem Analysis - Sonnet 116

'Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds'

Study the first 12 lines of the poem. Discuss how Shakespeare makes a statement in the first and second lines, and then use lines 2-12 to give examples which supports his viewpoints.

In the first two lines of the poem Shakespeare writes,

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments: love is not love

The first line shows that he thinks you should not marry unless you are faithful. He says 'let me not' which means that he does not approve of the untrue or unfaithful minds marrying. The second line means that there will be obstacles in your way and you must be willing to face or overcome them. Otherwise 'love is not love', or you will not experience love at its most true. These first two lines show that Shakespeare will go on to explore the idea of faithful or true love and also the obstacles of marriage.

In the next two lines of the poem Shakespeare looks at the possibility of somebody falling out of love with