Question

From william shakespeares Sonnet 55:

•what two things are being compared in these lines: “Not marble, nor the glided monuments of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;”
•how long will both the poem and the speakers beloved’s memory survive: “so, till the judgement that yourself arise, you live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.”

Answer 1

1. is is comparing the marble statues and gold- plated monuments to his verse. He is saying that his verse will survive longer than the marble statues and the gold-plated monuments of the rich and powerful.

2. Memory is crucial to the preservation of the beloved, but it only matters while the world as we know it is still around. Once the Final Judgment hits, death and time won't matter anymore because everyone will be resurrected and granted either eternal happiness in heaven or eternal suffering in hell. As long as this poem can last until the "ending doom", God will take over from there.