Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly light.
Anon the basest clouds to ride,
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace.
Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all triumphant splendour on my brow;
But out, alack! he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath mask’d him from me now.
Yet for this my love no whit disdaineth;
Suns of the world may stain when heaven’s sun staineth.
Summary of the Poem Sonnet 33
- Popularity of “Sonnet 33”: This sonnet, written by William Shakespeare, was composed around 1593. It was first published in 1609 in the first Quarto collection. It belongs to the sequence of “Fair Youth” sonnets, dedicated to an anonymous “Mr. W.H.” The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its exploration of fleeting beauty and the acceptance of inevitable change, mirroring the transient nature of both celestial events and human affection.
- “Sonnet 33” as a Representative of the Desire for the Transient Nature of Love: The poem begins with a sweeping observation of the sun’s radiant display, highlighting its ability to illuminate and beautify the natural world. Shakespeare quickly introduces the concept of transience, noting how quickly the sun can be obscured by clouds. This serves as a metaphor for the speaker’s own experience of love – a bright, glorious connection that, though fleeting, remains cherished. The speaker does not lament the loss, but rather accepts it as a natural part of life.
- Major Themes in “Sonnet 33”: The central themes of “Sonnet 33” are the beauty and transience of love, the acceptance of fate, and the power of enduring affection. The poem brilliantly uses the natural world as a metaphor for human relationships, emphasizing that both are subject to change and imperfection. Shakespeare suggests that even the most radiant beauty will inevitably fade, but that the memory of it – and the love it inspires – can endure. The final couplet offers a powerful message of acceptance: even the sun itself can be “stained,” and earthly loves should not be judged by such cosmic standards.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Sonnet 33
Shakespeare masterfully employs a variety of literary devices to enrich the meaning and impact of “Sonnet 33.” These techniques contribute to the poem’s beauty, complexity, and enduring appeal.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a musical effect and enhances the poem’s flow. For example, the repetition of the short “i” sound in “Kissing with golden face” contributes to the poem’s lyrical quality.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds emphasis and creates a memorable effect. The phrase “west with” demonstrates alliteration with the repeated /w/ sound.
- Consonance: This device involves the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words. Consider the line “And from the forlorn world his visage hide” where the repeated /r/ sound creates a sense of melancholy and longing.
- Imagery: Shakespeare uses vivid imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses, creating a strong visual and emotional experience. Lines such as “Gilding pale streams with heavenly light” and “Kissing with golden face the meadows green” evoke a sense of beauty and wonder.
- Metaphor: The central metaphor of the poem is the comparison between the sun and the beloved. The sun’s radiance, its ability to illuminate and transform, is used to represent the beauty and joy that the beloved brings.
- Personification: The sun is described as “flatter” the mountain tops, giving it a sense of agency and intention. This personification enhances the dynamism of the natural elements.
- Symbolism: The poem’s symbols, such as the sun, the clouds, and the mountain tops, carry deeper meanings about love, time, and fate.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Sonnet 33
- Compound words: The use of compound words, such as “mountain tops” and “all triumphant,” is characteristic of Shakespearean poetry, creating concise and evocative language.
- Alliteration: The repeated /w/ sound in “west with” adds a rhythmic quality that emphasizes the journey of the clouds.
- Consonance: The repeated /r/ sound in “forlorn world” gives the poem a subtle tension and depth.
- End Rhyme: The sonnet follows a strict rhyme scheme, with rhyming words at the end of each line.
- Quatrain: Each quatrain follows the ABAB pattern, allowing the poem to build and resolve its narrative in a structured way.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem’s rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, a classic Shakespearean structure.
- Stanza: The poem is composed of three quatrains and a closing couplet, which is typical of the Shakespearean sonnet form.
- Sonnet: As a sonnet, the poem adheres to the 14‑line form and showcases the tight, self‑contained nature of Shakespeare’s verse.
- Tone: The tone is reflective and contemplative, underscoring the speaker’s acceptance of the fleeting nature of beauty and love.
Quotes from the Poem
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly light.
Anon the basest clouds to ride,
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace.
Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all triumphant splendour on my brow;
But out, alack! he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath mask’d him from me now.
Yet for this my love no whit disdaineth;
Suns of the world may stain when heaven’s sun staineth.
Quotes from the Poem
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Full many a glorious morning have I seen