Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monuments Explanation, Literary devices, meanings

Summary of "Not Marble nor the Gilded Monuments" by William Shakespeare

The poem discusses the longevity and power of poetry compared to statues and monuments.
The poet's beloved is praised and celebrated through the powerful poetry.
Time is portrayed as immoral and destructive, causing the stone statues and monuments to decay.
The second stanza mentions that even during wars and conflicts, the poetry will continue to preserve the memory of the poet's beloved.
The work of masonry refers to the statues and monuments constructed by skilled masons.

Shakespeare discusses the destructive nature of war and how it leads to the destruction of statues and monuments.
He refers to Mars, the God of War, and states that even his power and the intense fire of war cannot destroy the power of poetry.
Shakespeare emphasizes that his poetry will continue to be praised even in the face of death and undisclosed enemies.
He asserts that his beloved shall be praised by future generations till the end of the world.
Shakespeare highlights the eternal power of his poetry and how it will be remembered and celebrated.
He concludes by stating that his beloved will live on in the judgment of the poem and in the eyes of lovers.

Alliteration: repetition of speech sounds in nearby words, creating a forceful effect (e.g., "shall shine," "wasteful wars").
Personification: treating nonliving objects or abstract concepts as if they possess human attributes or feelings (e.g., personifying time as "sluttish").
Repetition: repeating certain words to create a musical effect and unity in the poem (e.g., the repeated use of "shall" and "nor").
Epithet: using an adjective or adjective phrase to describe a distinctive quality of a person or thing (e.g., "sluttish" for time, "smear'd" for statues).
Allusion: indirect reference or suggestion to a well-known person, place, or thing (e.g., referring to Mars as the God of War).