Chapter 10 – That time of year Sonnet 73 Explanation, Summary, Questions and Answers

“That Time of Year” (Sonnet 73) is a beautiful poem by William Shakespeare that talks about aging, time, and love. Many students understand the poem but find it difficult to explain in exams. Here, you will get a clear explanation, short summary, and important questions and answers in easy English. This will help you understand the meaning of the poem step by step. With this guide, you can revise quickly, write better answers, and score higher marks in your exam.

Content Structure

1. About the author – William Shakespeare
2. Theme of the Sonnet 73
3. Summary of the Sonnet 73
4. Word meanings
5. Exercises solutions
6. Additional Questions and Answers
- 6A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
- 6B. Fill in the blanks
- 6C. True or False
- 6D. Short questions & answers
- 6E. Long questions & answers
7. Grammar
- 7A. Joining sentence

1. About the author – William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was a famous English playwright, poet and actor who was born on 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He is known as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s best dramatist. He wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. His famous plays are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Julius Caesar. He writes about love, power, jealousy and fate. He died on 23rd April 1616.

2. Theme of the Sonnet 73

The poem uses images like fall, twilight, and a dying fire to show how the passing of time causes youth to fade and leads to the arrival of old age.
Shakespeare reflects on how getting older brings a person nearer to death, using powerful images like the setting sun and ashes to show the fading of life and the coming of the end.
The poem shows that true love grows stronger when people accept the truth of loss and see that time passes quickly.

3. Summary of the Sonnet 73

William Shakespeare wrote this poem to express the sadness that comes with growing older. He compares himself to a tree that has lost most of its leaves in late fall, showing that his strength and youth are fading. He also compares himself to the twilight of a day, the time after sunset when darkness slowly takes over, symbolizing the nearness of death. In the final image, he likens himself to the dying coals of a fire resting on the ashes of their own past, which represents the end of life. Although these images are sad, the poet suggests that understanding them makes love even stronger, as it becomes deeper and more meaningful when we realize that time passes quickly.

4. Word meanings

Word	Meaning
Mayst	An old word for “may,” used to express possibility
Hang	Droop or dangle
Boughs	Branches
Ruined	Damaged so badly that it has lost its original form or beauty.
Seest	An old way of saying “you see.”
Thou	An old word for “you,”
Twilight	The soft, dim light in the sky just after the sun sets
Fadeth	Slowly disappears or becomes less bright
Doth	An old word for “does.”
Seals up	Closes completely
Seest	Old word for “you see”
Consumed	Completely burned or finished
Perceiv’st	Understand or notice
Nourished	Given support, food, or care to help something grow
Thy	An old word for “your,”

5. Exercises solutions

1. Discuss the various images drawn by Shakespeare in Sonnet 73… (6)
Ans: In Sonnet 73, Shakespeare uses three strong pictures to show that he is getting older and closer to death. First, he compares himself to late autumn, when only a few yellow leaves are left on the shaking branches, showing that his youth is fading. Next, he talks about twilight, the light after sunset, to show that life is ending, and then compares himself to a weak fire that is slowly turning to ashes. These pictures help us understand how time passes and life slowly comes to an end.

2. Explain how does the Sonnet form help the sonneteer to expand the theme in Sonnet 73
Ans: The sonnet style helps Shakespeare clearly express and develop the theme of growing older in a thoughtful and organized way. Sonnet 73 follows the Shakespearean sonnet style, with 14 lines divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. Each quatrain introduces a different image of decline such as autumn, twilight, and a dying fire, helping to deepen the idea of growing old. The final two lines provide a twist, showing that understanding this truth makes love stronger. This form helps the poet explain his ideas clearly, ending with a strong and touching message.

6. Additional Questions and Answers

6A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. Which season is mentioned in the poem?
(a) Summer
(b) Winter
(c) Autumn
(d) Spring

Ans: (c) Autumn

2. What do “bare ruined choirs” refer to?
(a) Churches
(b) Trees without leaves
(c) Birds singing
(d) Wind blowing

Ans: (b) Trees without leaves

3. What time of day is used as an image?
(a) Morning
(b) Noon
(c) Twilight
(d) Midnight

Ans: (c) Twilight

4. What does “Death’s second self” mean?
(a) Fire
(b) Sleep
(c) Darkness
(d) Pain

Ans: (b) Sleep

5. What does the fire on ashes stand for?
(a) New life
(b) Lost dreams
(c) Fading youth
(d) Bright future

Ans: (c) Fading youth

6. What is the poem mainly about?
(a) Beauty of nature
(b) Life after death
(c) Growing old
(d) Love and joy

Ans: (c) Growing old

7. What effect do these images have on the listener?
(a) Makes them sad
(b) Makes them love more
(c) Makes them afraid
(d) Makes them leave

Ans: (b) Makes them love more

8. Which figure of speech is in “Death’s second self”?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Alliteration
(d) Repetition

Ans: (b) Metaphor

9. How many lines are in a Shakespearean sonnet?
(a) 12
(b) 16
(c) 14
(d) 10

Ans: (c) 14

10. What is the message at the end of the poem?
(a) Love fades
(b) Life is long
(c) Love grows when we know life is short
(d) Time stops for love

Ans: (c) Love grows when we know life is short

11. What theme runs through the poem?
(a) War and peace
(b) Time and aging
(c) Youth and strength
(d) Power and politics

Ans: (b) Time and aging

12. What feeling does the poem mainly express?
(a) Anger
(b) Happiness
(c) Sadness
(d) Surprise

Ans: (c) Sadness

13. What does the speaker say happens after sunset?
(a) Morning comes
(b) Stars shine
(c) Night follows
(d) Rain starts

Ans: (c) Night follows

14. What does twilight in the poem suggest?
(a) A new beginning
(b) The end of the day
(c) A storm
(d) A memory

Ans: (b) The end of the day

15. What is sealed by “Death’s second self”?
(a) Dreams
(b) Eyes
(c) Hope
(d) Time

Ans: (b) Eyes

16. What lies beneath the fire in the poem?
(a) Wood
(b) Ashes
(c) Water
(d) Stone

Ans: (b) Ashes

17. What once gave life to the fire?
(a) Light
(b) Heat
(c) Wind
(d) Wood

Ans: (d) Wood

18. What is the tone of the poem?
(a) Angry
(b) Cheerful
(c) Thoughtful
(d) Confused

Ans: (c) Thoughtful

19. What does “expire” in the poem mean?
(a) Sleep
(b) Die
(c) Travel
(d) Shine

Ans: (b) Die

20. What does “boughs” mean in the poem?
(a) Roots
(b) Flowers
(c) Branches
(d) Fruits

Ans: (c) Branches

6B. Fill in the blanks

1. That time of year thou mayst in me ______________. (behold)
2. When yellow leaves, or none, or few do _________________. (hang)
3. Upon those boughs which _______________ against the cold. (shake)
4. Bare ruined _________________ where late the sweet birds sang. (choirs)
5. In me thou seest the ____________________ of such day. (twilight)
6. Death’s second self that _________________ up all in rest. (seals)
7. In me thou seest the _________________ of such fire. (glowing)
8. As the death-bed whereon it must ___________________. (expire)
9. This thou _________________, which makes thy love more strong. (perceiv’st)
10. The “twilight” suggests the end of the __________________. (day)
11. “Boughs” in the poem refers to ___________________ of trees. (branches)
12. The poem uses fire as a symbol of fading __________________. (youth)
13. “Death’s second self” is another word for _______________. (sleep)
14. The final lines show that true love grows _________________ with time. (stronger)
15. The poet says that understanding loss makes love more ____________________. (meaningful)

6C. True or False

1. The poem talks about the early days of youth. (False)
S/S: It talks about the later stage of life, not youth.

2. “Yellow leaves” in the poem represent aging. (True)
S/S: Falling leaves in autumn are a symbol of growing old.

3. Shakespeare compares himself to a tree in spring. (False)
S/S: He compares himself to a tree in late autumn, not spring.

4. The phrase “bare ruined choirs” refers to empty tree branches. (True)
S/S: They once held birds, like choirs once filled with singers.

5. The poem says “black night” takes over after sunset. (True)
S/S: Black night comes after sunset, just like death after life.

6. The fire lies on the ashes of its past youth. (True)
S/S: It shows that what once gave life is now nearly gone.

7. The fire is a picture of energy and power. (False)
S/S: It shows weakness and the end of strength.

8. “Expire” in the poem means to die. (True)
S/S: Expire is another word for death in this poem.

9. The poem says time stands still. (False)
S/S: Time moves fast and leads to the end.

10. The listener in the poem is expected to love less. (False)
S/S: The poem says love becomes even stronger.

11. The poet uses nature to show his feelings. (True)
S/S: He uses seasons, sunset, and fire as symbols.

12. The poem is written in 14 lines. (True)
S/S: It follows the Shakespearean sonnet form.

13. The sonnet is divided into two stanzas. (False)
S/S: It is divided into three quatrains and one couplet.

14. Each image in the poem shows a different stage of ending. (True)
S/S: Autumn, twilight, and fire each show something fading.

15. The poem is about gaining power. (False)
S/S: It is about losing strength and nearing death.

6D. Short questions & answers

1. Explain the central idea of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73.
Ans: Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare talks about the passing of time and growing old. The poet uses pictures of autumn, evening, and a dying fire to show how life slowly comes to an end, and this understanding makes love stronger and more special.

2. Which season does Shakespeare use in Sonnet 73 to represent old age?
Ans: Shakespeare uses autumn to represent old age, as the falling yellow leaves show that life is coming to a close, just like nature begins to fade before winter arrives.

3. What does the word “boughs” mean in Sonnet 73?
Ans: “Boughs” means the branches of a tree, and in the poem, they represent weakness and the coming end of life, just like the speaker’s aging body and fading strength.

4. What does the phrase “bare ruined choirs” refer to in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The phrase “bare ruined choirs” refers to empty trees in winter where birds once sang, symbolizing the fading of youth, the loss of energy, and the quiet loneliness that come with old age.

5. How does Shakespeare use the image of twilight in Sonnet 73 to add meaning?
Ans: In Sonnet 73, Shakespeare uses twilight, the time shortly after sunset, as a symbol of life’s final stage, clearly showing the speaker’s feeling that his life is slowly coming to an end.

6. What does the setting sun symbolize in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The setting sun symbolizes the end of life, as its going down in the west shows that the speaker is growing older and coming closer to death.

7. How does the phrase “Death’s second self” support the theme of Sonnet 73?
Ans: The phrase “Death’s second self” means sleep, and Shakespeare uses it as a soft image for death, showing that death brings rest and peace, just like sleep brings at night.

8. What does fire symbolize in Sonnet 73?
Ans: Fire is a symbol of warmth and life but in the poem it has burned down to ashes, showing that the speaker’s strength and energy are fading away.

9. What do “ashes” represent in real life according to Sonnet 73?
Ans: In Sonnet 73, ashes represent the end of youth and energy, meaning that the speaker’s fire has burned low, which shows he has become weak and is close to death.

10. How many lines are there in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The sonnet has fourteen lines made up of three quatrains, each with four lines, followed by a couplet with two lines, which is the typical structure of a Shakespearean sonnet.

11. What do the final two lines of Sonnet 73 talk about?
Ans: The final lines say that love grows stronger when we realize that time is short and life is weak, which helps us understand the need to love more deeply before it’s too late.

12. Why does the speaker talk so much about death in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The speaker talks about death to remind us that life is short, so we understand the importance of valuing our time and loving one another deeply.

13. What does “leave ere long” mean in Sonnet 73?
Ans: “Leave ere long” means to leave soon, and the speaker warns that he may not be here much longer, so love should be strong while we have time.

14. How does the speaker feel about getting older in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The speaker feels calm but sad about aging, accepting that death is near and wanting to express how precious love is while there is still time.

15. What is the tone or style of Sonnet 73?
Ans: The tone of the poem is gentle and caring because although it talks about death it is written in a kind and serious way that helps us think deeply about love and time.

16. What message does the last line of Sonnet 73 give to the reader?
Ans: The last line tells us that when we know time is short, love feels stronger and more special, so we should hold on to it truly before it’s gone.

17. What does the word “consumed” mean in Sonnet 73?
Ans: “Consumed” means used up or burned away, showing that the speaker’s energy and strength are almost gone as he reaches the end of his life.

18. Why are birds no longer mentioned in the present in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The birds once sang but now they are gone showing that the speaker’s joyful and active days are over like the birds’ songs, which have faded with time.

6E. Long questions & answers

1. What is the main idea that Sonnet 73 presents?
Ans: Sonnet 73 explores two main ideas: growing older and the nearness of death. Shakespeare uses images of autumn, twilight, and a dying fire to show how life slowly fades, highlighting both the passage of time and the physical and emotional changes that come with aging. The speaker shares these thoughts with someone close to him, showing that love becomes stronger and more meaningful when we realize that time is limited.

2. What are some artistic ways Shakespeare shows autumn in the poem?
Ans: Shakespeare uses the season of autumn to symbolize old age, describing bare tree branches, yellow leaves, and stillness to reflect the aging process. The phrase “bare ruined choirs” suggests lifeless trees and a sense of silence and loss, helping us understand that the speaker is growing older and experiencing loneliness. Shakespeare uses these images to express the slow ending of life that comes with growing old.

3. What does the second quatrain’s image of darkness mean?
Ans: The second quatrain uses twilight as a metaphor for life coming to an end, describing it as the fading light at the end of the day to symbolize the final stage of life. The fading of light into night represents the speaker’s approach toward death, and the line “Death’s second self” suggests sleep as a gentle form of death, creating a quiet and peaceful mood that helps readers feel the slow and emotional flow of time.

4. What does the fire metaphor tell us about the speaker’s feelings?
Ans: The fire stands for the speaker’s life, as he sees himself like a fire that once shone brightly but is now turning into ashes. The ashes show that his strength and energy are almost gone, and this weak fire tells us he is close to the end of his life. The image helps us understand how he feels about growing old and losing his strength.

5. What does the line “This you perceive, which makes your love stronger” mean?
Ans: The person close to the speaker understands that he is growing old and may not be around much longer, and this awareness makes their love stronger because realizing that time is short makes love deeper and more meaningful. The speaker believes that love does not fade with age but grows when we know we may soon lose someone we care about.

6. What tone does Shakespeare use in Sonnet 73?
Ans: The tone of Sonnet 73 is gentle, thoughtful, and a little sad, as Shakespeare talks kindly and carefully about aging and death. He uses soft images like autumn, fading light, and dying fire to create a calm and quiet feeling. The poem shows that the topic is serious but also gives a sense of hope and the strong power of love.

7. Why is Sonnet 73 called a love poem?
Ans: Sonnet 73 talks about aging and death but is called a love poem because it shows how love grows stronger when time is short. The speaker shares his feelings with someone he cares about, showing that knowing life is short makes love deeper and not weaker. The poem tells us that true love becomes stronger as we face growing old and the end of life.

8. What does the phrase “Death’s second self that seals up all in rest” mean?
Ans: The phrase refers to sleep as a gentle form of death, with Shakespeare comparing nighttime and sleep to resting peacefully. The phrase “seals up all in rest” indicates that sleep provides calm and stillness. This image presents death not as something to fear but as a quiet, natural ending to life, like falling asleep at the end of the day.

9. What makes Sonnet 73 powerful and memorable?
Ans: Sonnet 73 is powerful because it talks about something everyone understands the fear of loss and getting old. Shakespeare uses kind and honest words with strong pictures like fire, twilight, and autumn to show the end of life clearly. These soft and emotional pictures help readers feel the poet’s feelings. The poem is very moving and easy to remember because it shows that love grows stronger as we get older.

7. Grammar

7A. Joining sentence

1. Simple: The leaves are few. The branches are bare.
Compound: The leaves are few, and the branches are bare.

2. Complex: When the twilight fades, black night follows.
Simple: Black night follows the fading of twilight.

3. Compound: The trees are barren, and the birds have flown.
Complex: The birds who once sang have flown from the barren trees.

4. Simple: The fire is low. It glows faintly.
Complex: The fire, which glows faintly, is burning low.

5. Complex: The day that ends in the west is taken by night.
Simple: The day ends in the west and is taken by night.

6. Compound: The sunset has faded, and the night has arrived.
Complex: After the sunset fades, the night arrives.

7. Simple: The ashes are cold. The fire has died.
Complex: The fire has died on the cold ashes of youth.

8. Complex: Because you know the end is near, you love more deeply.
Simple: The nearness of the end makes your love deeper.

9. Compound: The boughs shake in the cold, and the leaves cling to them.
Complex: The boughs, on which the leaves still cling, shake in the cold.

10. Simple: The choir is ruined. The birds once sang there.
Complex: The choir where the birds once sang is now ruined.

11. Compound: The twilight fades, but the fire still glows.
Complex: Though twilight fades, the fire within still glows faintly.

12. Complex: The night, which is called death’s second self, brings quiet rest.
Simple: Night, death’s second self, brings quiet rest.

13. Compound: The fire was once strong, but now it burns low.
Complex: The fire that once burned strong now glows weakly.

14. Simple: The ashes are the remains. They nourished the fire once.
Complex: The fire is consumed by the ashes that once nourished it.

15. Compound: You see the fire dying, and you feel more love.
Complex: As you see the fire dying, your love grows stronger.

16. Simple: The sun has set. The evening is cold.
Complex: The evening grows cold after the sun has set.

17. Complex: The love which faces separation becomes stronger.
Simple: Love grows stronger as separation nears.

18. Compound: The twilight fades, and the darkness spreads.
Complex: As twilight fades, darkness spreads across the sky.

19. Complex: The flame that burns low lies on its own ashes.
Simple: The low flame lies on its ashes.

20. Compound: You will soon lose the beloved, yet you love more deeply.
Complex: Knowing you must lose the beloved, you love more deeply.

21. Simple: He was tired. He went to bed.
Compound: He was tired, so he went to bed.

22. Compound: The sun set, and the stars appeared.
Complex: When the sun set, the stars appeared.

23. Simple: She studied hard. She passed the test.
Complex: Because she studied hard, she passed the test.

24. Complex: When I heard the news, I was shocked.
Simple: Hearing the news, I was shocked.

25. Compound: He took the umbrella, for it was raining.
Simple: It was raining, so he took the umbrella.

26. Simple: Seeing a snake, he screamed.
Complex: When he saw a snake, he screamed.

27. Complex: Since he was ill, he didn’t attend class.
Compound: He was ill, so he didn’t attend class.

28. Compound: The road was slippery, and the car skidded.
Simple: The car skidded on the slippery road.

29. Simple: The soldier fought bravely and died.
Complex: The soldier, who fought bravely, died.

30. Complex: As he was honest, he was respected.
Simple: His honesty earned him respect.

31. Compound: The boy ran fast, and he caught the bus.
Simple: Running fast, the boy caught the bus.

32. Simple: Being late, she missed the beginning of the play.
Compound: She was late, so she missed the beginning of the play.

33. Complex: Although he tried hard, he failed.
Simple: Despite trying hard, he failed.

34. Simple: She practiced daily to improve her skills.
Complex: She practiced daily so that she could improve her skills.

35. Compound: I was hungry, so I ate early.
Complex: Because I was hungry, I ate early.

36. Complex: As the rain continued, the match was cancelled.
Simple: Due to continuous rain, the match was cancelled.

37. Compound: He read the book, and he wrote a review.
Simple: He wrote a review after reading the book.

38. Simple: Climbing the hill, we reached the temple.
Compound: We climbed the hill, and we reached the temple.

39. Complex: Since the bell rang, the class ended.
Compound: The bell rang, and the class ended.

40. Compound: The thief saw the police, so he ran away.
Simple: Seeing the police, the thief ran away.

41. Complex: Though it was late, they waited for her.
Simple: In spite of the late hour, they waited for her.

42. Compound: It was cold, yet she went out.
Complex: Although it was cold, she went out.

43. Simple: He opened the window and let the breeze in.
Complex: He opened the window so that the breeze could come in.

44. Complex: Because he was tired, he rested.
Compound: He was tired, so he rested.

45. Compound: The child cried, and the mother comforted him.
Simple: The crying child was comforted by his mother.

46. Complex: As she was talented, she won the prize.
Simple: Her talent helped her win the prize.

47. Simple: The dog barked seeing the stranger.
Complex: When the dog saw the stranger, it barked.

48. Compound: The train arrived, and the passengers boarded.
Simple: On the train’s arrival, the passengers boarded.

49. Complex: He confessed that he was guilty.
Simple: He made a confession of his guilt.

50. Compound: It rained heavily, yet the match continued.
Complex: Although it rained heavily, the match continued.