Shakespeare Sonnet #73

Directions: Study both the paraphrase and the Sonnet and answer the questions.

Sonnet 73, William Shakespeare

SONNET 73

That time of year thou may'st in me behold 
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, 
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. 
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day, 
As after sunset fadeth in the west, 
Which by-and-by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. 
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire 
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, 
As the death-bed whereon it must expire 
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by. 
   This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

SONNET 73	PARAPHRASE
That time of year thou mayst in me behold	In me you can see that time of year
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang	When a few yellow leaves or none at all hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,	On the branches, shaking against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.	Bare ruins of church choirs where lately the sweet birds sang.
In me thou seest the twilight of such day	In me you can see only the dim light that remains
As after sunset fadeth in the west,	After the sun sets in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,	Which is soon extinguished by black night,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.	The image of death that envelops all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire	I am like a glowing ember
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,	Lying on the dying flame of my youth,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,	As on the death bed where it must finally expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.	Consumed by that which once fed it.
This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,	This you sense, and it makes your love more determined
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.	Causing you to love that which you must give up before long.

Write your answers on loose-leaf. 

1.    Based on the description in the first four lines, what season is the speaker referring to? 

2.    What tone is set in the first four lines? 

3.    The phrase "death's second self" is a(n) 

4.    Which of the following accurately describes how the ideas in the poem are structured? 

5.    Please name and describe one theme of this poem. 

6.    Which of the following contains imagery of a sunset?