Sonnet 14: Not From The Stars Do I My Judgment Pluck
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have astronomy,
But not to tell of good or evil luck,
Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons’ quality;
Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell,
Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind,
Or say with princes if it shall go well
By oft predict that I in heaven find:
But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
And, constant stars, in them I read such art
As truth and beauty shall together thrive,
If from thyself, to store thou wouldst convert;
Or else of thee this I prognosticate:
Thy end is truth’s and beauty’s doom and date.
Summary of Sonnet 14
- Context and Theme: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 14 is a meditation on the limits of external sources of knowledge, such as astrology, and the power of personal insight. The speaker declares that while he possesses astronomy, it cannot reveal the future. Instead, he turns to the beloved’s eyes as a source of truth and beauty.
- Interpretation of the Poem: The poem dismisses the idea that the stars determine fate. It then contrasts this with the speaker’s claim that he can read the future in the beloved’s eyes, suggesting that true insight comes from intimate connection rather than from celestial bodies.
- Core Ideas: The sonnet explores the fleeting nature of beauty, the longing for enduring truth, and the role of personal relationships in preserving both. It is a reflection on mortality, the limits of human knowledge, and the possibility of finding permanence in human connection.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Sonnet 14
Shakespeare uses a range of literary techniques to deepen the poem’s meaning and enhance its musical quality.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds, such as the long “e” in “Or else of thee this I prognosticate,” creates a gentle, lyrical rhythm.
- Consonance: The repeated “t” sound in “And, constant stars, in them I read such art” adds a sense of steadiness and emphasizes the idea of constancy.
- Enjambment: The thought in lines 5‑6 continues across a line break: “Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell,
Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind,”. This continuation gives the poem momentum. - Imagery: Vivid images such as “pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind” evoke sound and motion, while the image of “constant stars” suggests reliability and permanence.
- Irony: The poem’s irony lies in the speaker’s dismissal of astrology only to claim that he can read the future in a person’s eyes, underscoring the theme that true insight comes from the personal, not the cosmic.
- Metaphor: The beloved’s eyes are compared to a source of divine knowledge, suggesting that true wisdom is found within the beloved rather than the heavens.
- Symbolism: Stars traditionally symbolize destiny, but here they are used to illustrate that destiny can also be found in human intimacy.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Sonnet 14
Shakespeare’s structural choices reinforce the sonnet’s musical and thematic qualities.
- Couplet: The final two lines—“Or else of thee this I prognosticate:
Thy end is truth’s and beauty’s doom and date.”—serve as a decisive resolution, highlighting the consequences of neglecting to preserve beauty and truth. - End Rhyme: The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, creating a clear musical pattern.
- Iambic Pentameter: Each line is composed of ten syllables in an unstressed/stressed pattern, for example, “Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck.” This rhythm mirrors natural speech.
- Quatrain: The poem is divided into three quatrains that each explore a different facet of the central argument.
- Rhyme Scheme: The consistent ABAB CDCD EFEF GG pattern enhances cohesion and musicality.
- Sonnet Form: As a fourteen‑line poem in iambic pentameter, it adheres to the traditional sonnet structure, allowing Shakespeare to present complex ideas concisely.
Quotes to be Used
But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
And, constant stars, in them I read such art
As truth and beauty shall together thrive,
If from thyself, to store thou wouldst convert.