simile: compares his absence to the cold, loneliness of winter; depicts

the poets feelings of cold emptiness without his love.

diction: the soft yet resonant consonance of freezings and felt depict the
authors struggle with the cold. The tone of f resembles the airy sound of
someone shivering, whereas the alliteration illustrates the continuation of
said shivering.

consonance:
the
in dark and
feeling, as if the poet has been
experience.
Sonnet 97
How like a winter hath my

bold and deep sound of the d

days brings with it a dramatic
through a truly traumatic

absence been * A

First Quatrain

From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! Bpersonification:

the poet personifies

December, using old to show familiarity in order to portray that hes been
trapped in this state for so long that December is almost an old
acquaintance.
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! A
What old December's bareness everywhere!

BDiction: Emphasis is put on teeming

autumn by its cacophonous sound amidst a euphonic line so that the reader can fully imagine the thriving autumn of
which the poet speaks

And yet this time remov'd was

summer's time, C

The teeming autumn, big with

rich increase, DSecond

Quatrain

Sound: there is a repetitive r sound heard throughout the line, which almost resembles an angry
growling sound, suggesting that the poet was maddened by his loves absence.

Bearing the wanton burden of the prime, C

Like widow'd wombs after their lord's

causes a dark sound that

the quatrain, setting the tone for
Yet this abundant issue seem'd to me E
Third Quatrain

decease: DThis

alliteration
resonates through the rest of
part of the sonnet.

Alliteration: the repetition of the f sound throughout the line forces the reader or orator to continuously bring their
teeth to the bottom lip mimicking the biting of ones lip, often associated with stress, dissatisfaction, anger, and
frustration.

But hope of orphans and unfather'd fruit; F

For summer and his pleasures wait on thee,

And, thou away,

mute; F

the very birds are

Diction: the author's choice of pleasures over treasures

follows, while simultaneously differentiating between simply
connotation associated with positive emotional stimuli, of which
though summer is upon him, its pleasures wait upon his beloved
Heroic
Couplet

complies with the natural current the sonnet

what is rare and beautiful and a more personal
the poet is unable to experience, because

** Or, if they sing, 'tis with so dull a cheer G

That leaves look pale, dreading the winter's near. GImagery: The image of pale leaves
accompanied by the dull picture of winter that has accumulated over the course of the sonnet reflects the
overall dismal mood of the poem. It also neglects the transformation from gold and red to death, by
passing all joy brought upon in the dying days of autumn.
*Problem and problem development: The poet is trapped in a seemingly never-ending winter
due to his absence from his beloved. Everyday spent apart is cold and dark, despite summers
warmth and autumns abundance surrounding him.
**Solution: The poet concludes that even though he may witness joy or beauty while away, he
will not be able to enjoy lifes pleasures without the company of his love.