The Phoenix and the Turtle, by William Shakespeare is about the magical nature of love depicted in a funeral arranged for the deceased Phoenix and Turtledove after they had burned themselves to death in order to be forever together. The phoenix and turtledove’s death is a metaphor for the death of true love. There are three parts to the poem - the gathering of the birds for the funeral ceremony; a powerful description of the love between the phoenix and the turtle; and lastly the 'threnos' the funeral song; a passionate expression of grief and sorrow. The main theme of the poem is the intense love that binds the two creatures together; turning them into a single being with is then followed by the sadness that permeates the poem. The affectionate …show more content…
The phoenix and turtledove’s love is created through the using phrases like, ‘so they loved in love in twain’. It makes the reader understand what a perfect bonding relationship they have. The poem finishes with a ‘threnos’ a funeral song which makes the reader feel the misery the phoenix and the turtle suffer from. Through the line, ‘so between them love did shine’ and by placing emphasis on the word, ‘love’ the reader realises just how significant love is, being the epitome of all values which shines through in our families, our friends and ourselves. The poem describes the loving bond between the phoenix and the turtledove. The last line of Stanza 9 ‘either was the other’s mine’ creates a double entendre which is the deliberate use of ambiguity. On one point of view, it suggests a merging of identities: ‘I am you, and you are me’; or, ‘I am yours and you are mine’. On the other hand, it suggests that one bird is a gold mine and the other a sliver mine. This contributes to the understanding of the fond relationship the phoenix and the turtledove …show more content…
Line 30 ‘Distance and no space was seen’ is a paradox that serves to create tension in the reader’s mind. In each of the four-line stanzas in the beginning, the first line rhymes with the fourth and the second line rhymes with the third. The third stanza demonstrates the pattern. ‘From this session interdict Every fowl of tyrant wing, Save the eagle, feather'd