Question

(a) The poet uses alliteration to heighten the musical quality of the sonnet.

Working in pairs, underline the examples of alliteration in the poem.

(b) Identify Shakespeare's use of personification in the poem.

Answer 1

(a) A few instances of alliteration in the poem are:

• Unswept stone besmear’d with sluttish time;

• When wasteful war;

• Nor Mars his sword nor war’s;

• Praise shall still;

• Lover’s eyes.

(b) “The living record of your memory” has been personified here in the sonnet as a man. He shall pace forth against death, bereavement, etc. He shall live life even in the eyes of all posterity.