Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 is a poignant and introspective poem that employs a variety of literary devices to convey the speaker's feelings of loneliness and isolation.
One of the most prominent literary devices used in the sonnet is personification, in which the speaker attributes human qualities to non-human objects. In this sonnet, the speaker personifies Time as a "death-bed" on which the speaker lies, implying that the passage of time is a slow and painful process. This personification serves to deepen the sense of despair and hopelessness that the speaker feels.
Another literary device used in the sonnet is imagery, in which the speaker uses vivid and descriptive language to create a mental picture for the reader. The speaker uses imagery to describe their own feelings of isolation and despair, describing themselves as "despised, distressed," and "all alone." This imagery helps to paint a vivid picture of the speaker's emotional state and the depth of their despair.
Metaphor is another literary device used in the sonnet, in which the speaker compares one thing to another using figurative language. In this sonnet, the speaker compares their own feelings of isolation and despair to being "bereft" or "left alone," implying that they feel abandoned and isolated. This metaphor serves to further emphasize the speaker's feelings of loneliness and despair.
Alliteration, the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a line or passage, is also used in the sonnet. For example, the repetition of the "d" sound in the line "Despised, distressed, hated, martyred, killed" serves to emphasize the speaker's feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Overall, Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 is a powerful and emotive poem that employs a variety of literary devices to convey the speaker's feelings of loneliness and isolation. Through the use of personification, imagery, metaphor, and alliteration, the speaker is able to effectively convey the depth and intensity of their emotions to the reader, creating a poignant and thought-provoking work of literature.