Sonnet 19 and 63 consider the destructive nature of time and the effect on the man's beauty. Compare and contrast the two sonnets focusing on the poet's intention and use of language and structure.

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Sonnet 19 and 63 consider the destructive nature of time and the effect on the man’s beauty. Compare and contrast the two sonnets focusing on the poet’s intention and use of language and structure.

In this essay I am going to compare and contrast sonnet 19 and 63 focusing on the poets intention and use of language and structure considering the destructive nature of time theme and the effect on the mans beauty.

Sonnet 19 is about the destructive power of time and in, which is very explicit in this particular sonnet. The sonnet is based upon the personification of time used by Shakespeare. Sonnet 63’s theme is again about time and personifies time and performs beauty as an image.

In Sonnet 19 Shakespeare represents Time as wild animals, like Lions and Tigers, because these animals are powerful just like Time. For example “Devouring Time blunt thou the Lion’s paws”. This quote portrays Time as an animal devouring its prey – Time is the animal and the young mans beauty is the animals prey. Shakespeare uses Time as a hunting killing machine. Another reference to wild animals is “Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws”. Time is portrayed as destructive and at some stage in the poets young friend he will become blunt and time will take away its ability to survive therefore destructive power is being torn away which emphasis’s on times power. Whereas in Sonnet 63 the theme and intention is very similar to sonnet 19 but is portrayed in an ageing process. In sonnet 19 Shakespeare uses time and the destructive power of time however he uses a contrast of the old and young to appreciate time will eventually crush and wear you down, “With time’s injured hand crushed and o’erworn”. There is a major contrast in one line which mainly focuses on the ageing process “With lines and wrinkles when is youthful morn” this quote represents the soon to be death and time will have its turn upon you.

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In sonnet 19 beauty is portrayed in many ways, however in a contrasting way to sonnet 63. “And make the earth devour hr own sweet blood”, eventually time will destroy the poet’s beautiful young friend, although the poet can do nothing to prevent this from happening. In sonnet 19 the poet writes as if this man is someone to worship against, “For beauty’s pattern to succeeding men.” The personification is trying to convince the young man that if he doesn’t have children then Time will slowly take away his beauty. However Shakespeare has given Time a female agenda, maybe because ...

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