In Edmund Spenser's poem, titled Sonnet 75, the author depicts a story of true love, a love that cannot be forgotten no matter how many times the tide rolls over it. In the poem, Spenser uses such literary devices as figurative language, personification, and the almighty symbolism among others. This is a basic sonnet in form starting with a quatrain and then ending in 5 line cinquains. There is a basic ABAB rhyme scheme, that adds a certain level of playfulness to the tone of the poem. .
The deeper meaning alludes to of course the man's love for a basic, mortal human. I say mortal, because in the poem as this man is talking to this woman (supposedly his love) she claims he is trying to, "immortalize the mortal". By saying this, it adds contrast and difficulty to love; therefore making it above all imperfect, as one might suspect. As the poem continues, however, the author shows this man trying to eternize his love. This shows a sign of persistence and overall stubbornness, because again as she said he is trying to "immortalize the mortal." .
The poem makes a reference to spirituality. In lines 4, 13, and 14 the author states something of the heavens and life, which make basic and easy to identify ties to religion. As in line 4 says, "But came the tide, and mad my pains his prey," its obvious that his means God. This assumption can be made, as the only others in this poem are himself and his love. Above all, God controls everything, so who else could possibly make a common mans pain his prey? Then in line 13, Spenser makes a reference to the heavens and how he is going to write the name of his love in it. Heavens is of course a Christian belief, giving thought into the afterlife. Finally, in line 14 the author says, "and later life renew." Many see this as a statement of the belief and theory of reincarnation, once again, a religious belief. .
Spenser uses above all personification to allude to both a god and even the ocean, if you look at it differently.