A common oxymoron throughout the Sonnets is the idea of being "alone together." Discuss what this means for the author, and its possible implications.

Bread is a common metaphor for Matilde in these poems. Why would Neruda choose such an object? What qualities does bread have that apply to Matilde and/or love?

Why does Pablo Neruda state that he has fashioned his Sonnets from wood, in the Dedication?

Why do you think Neruda has divided these 100 Sonnets into Morning, Afternoon, and Night? Is there a common subject matter or tone among poems in one division?

Explore the differences between the city and the country in these 100 Sonnets. Why is this an important distinction for Neruda? What does the city represent, and what does the country (or nature) represent?

According to these Sonnets, what was Neruda's life like before Matilde loving him?

Matilde's hands...