Shakesperean Sonnets

In sonnet number 5, ‘When I consider everything that grows’, the poet seems to be pondering mans place in the universe. Indeed, his

place in the universe. The poet reflects on the scope of the universe, with reference to ‘this huge stage’, ‘the stars’, and ‘the self-same sky’. He refers to man as like a plant, subject to the same laws of nature. The first quatrain embodies a sentiment of realisation that the universe does indeed have an order, and that this order is controlled by time. Time is a continuous theme throughout this sonnet, referred to in the second line ‘a little moment’ and reinforced with capitalisation in the third quatrain and couplet. The second quatrain deals with the aspect of aging. ‘Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease’, boasting of youth, there will come a time when their ‘brave state’, or short lived ‘perfection’ will come to an end and the memory of such will gradually fade forev

Some topics in this essay:
Literature Petrarchan, , third quatrain, universe indeed,