In Elizabethan England – the era in which Shakespeare’s sonnets were written – the sonnet was the form of choice for lyric poets particularly to engage with traditional themes of love and romance. A sonnet is a 14-line lyric poem traditionally written in iambic pentameter – lines ten syllables long with accents falling on every second syllable.

The Shakespearean sonnet is divided into 4 parts: the first 3 parts are each four lines long – known as quatrains the fourth part is a couplet.

This type of sonnet is often used to develop a sequence of metaphors and ideas, one in each quatrain, while the couplet offers either a summary or a new take on the preceding images and ideas.

Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence can be divided in the following way : Sonnets – in which the poet strikes up a relationship with a young man – the Fair Youth Sonnets – which are concerned with the poet’s relationship with a woman, his mistress – the Dark Lady

Sonnet 60 is acknowledged as one of Shakespeare’s greatest because it - is meditation on mortality - deals with the universal concerns of time and its passing - is the best exemplar of the theme of the ravages of time

Sonnet LX by William Shakespeare Ms.M.Sammut Dimech

Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,

So do our minutes hasten to their end;

Each changing place with that which goes before In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

Nativity, once in the main of light, Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d, Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight.

And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.

Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow

Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth, And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:

And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,

Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.