Literary Imagery In Sonnet 12 By William Shakespeare

Literary imagery is the descriptive language used to add depth and complexity to a poem. It appeals to the human senses to deepen the understanding of the work, and if imagery is powerful enough it can engage all the senses pro lenses, which are the physical senses; visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile. Imagery represents objects, actions and ideas that appeal to the physical senses of a human and can give internal meaning to a poem. Shakespeare uses naturistic imagery in Sonnet 12 through allusion in reference, alliteration through sound and comparison through metaphors to enhance the theme, the passage of nature, time, youth and procreation. An allusion is a reference to a place, person, idea or something that happened. Shakespeare uses allusion in Sonnet 12 to produce an image of death and fear. In line three of Sonnet 12, “violet past prime” can be thought of through the story of Adonis and Venus. When Adonis melted into the earth, a violet had sprouted …show more content…
Shakespeare uses alliteration in Sonnet 12 to produce an image of time passing by. In line one the last four words, “that tells the time”, is an alliteration. All four words start with the letter “T”, and it can be argued that when these words are read aloud it can mimic the ticking of a clock and produce the image of time passing by. The word “clock”, also in line one, can stand with the alliteration to produce the image of passing time. Alliteration is also used in line eight. “Borne of the bier with white and bristly beard” enhances the image of an old man being carried to his grave, or even death. This strong alliteration enhances the poems lyrics and gives a deeper meaning to the passage of time and, equally, death. Shakespeare implies that the man is getting older, and it is becoming less possible for the man to conceive, and he should before he is carried to his grave during his