In the line 'The living record of your memory', living record refers to ____

• the sonnet the poet has written for his friend 

• an existing statue of his friend

• his friend who lives in the poet's memory 

• the autobiography of the poet's friend. 

Why do you think the rich and powerful people get monuments and statues erected in their memory?

Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages of time.

Why does the poet refer to Time as being sluttish?

The poet says that neither forces of nature nor wars can destroy his poetry. In fact, even godly powers of Mars will not have a devastating effect on his rhyme. What quality of the poet is revealed through these lines?

The poet uses alliteration to heighten the musical quality of the sonnet. Working in pairs, underline the examples of alliteration in the poem. 

Identify Shakespeare's use of personification in the poem.