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Hooft Home
Introduction
The original poem
The modern
Dutch spelling

The prose translation
Three verse translations
Prose paraphrase:
Dutch

Working version
of the poem

Structure of poem (1)
Structure of poem (2)
Visual representation
Author's biography
The bibliography
Feedback form
Copyright

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STRUCTURE OF POEM (1)

The poem's thematic structure:

Most of Hooft's sonnets fall into two parts. This is the case here too. Part 1 (lines 1-8) offers a very visual description of time, represented as a swift-footed old man using wings and sails to move about, and as a destructive monster that devours literally everything.

In part two (lines 9-14) the tone shifts from description to a direct address to the lady now we have an I speaking to a you about personal emotions.

The concluding lines contain a pseudo-philosophical (and pseudo-philological) point in the form of a witticism about subjective longing and making time seem longer.To read more about the poem's two main themes, click on >love and >time.

The poem's formal structure:

The poem is written in alexandrines, i.e. lines of 12 syllables each (or 13 if the final syllable is unstressed). The metre is iambic: one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable. Listen to the recording and you will hear the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables. There are however several irregularities. They are undoubtedly deliberate, to create effect.

Can you spot two instances of metrical irregularity, i.e. places where two stressed syllables occur next to each other? Check you answer >here.

The rhyme scheme is abba abba ccd eed, which is quite common in Hooft's sonnets. This rhyme scheme groups the first 8 lines together (abba abba) and also the last 6 lines (either as ccd eed, or as cc deed). As it happens, the first 8 lines also form a thematic unit.

To explore the way the poem creates all kinds of parallels and oppositions, >click here.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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