Verified Document

Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 Analysis Of Shakespeare's "Sonnet Essay

Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 Analysis of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130"

William Shakespeare was a renowned poet and playwright who wrote 38 plays and more than 154 sonnets. Among these sonnets is Sonnet 130 (My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun) in which he describes the features in his mistress that he admires. This sonnet is interesting due to the nature of the comparisons. While many would use metaphors to boast that their beloved's features are far more beautiful than anything known to man, Shakespeare contends that his beloved's features are nothing like the beautiful things that are found in nature. Through his use of imagery, Shakespeare is able to detail the things that he admires in nature despite the fact that his mistress does not embody any of those qualities.

The sonnet begins with the line "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 1) which out of context could insinuate that the narrator believes that his mistress' eyes are brighter than the sun, however, as the sonnet continues, it is clear that the narrator intends to establish that his mistress' eyes do not shine as...

The second line of the sonnet, "Coral is far more red than her lips' red" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 2) allows the reader to understand that the first line is not intended to boast that the narrator's mistress' eyes are more beautiful than the sun. This second line helps to establish that the mistress' lips, much like her eyes, are less beaming and bright than rich, red coral. The narrator continues, "If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 3). This comparison establishes that the mistress' complexion is not white, but rather is tanned. Moreover, the narrator continues to describe his mistress, "If her hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 4). Through this analogy, the narrator establishes that his beloved has coarse, dark hair as opposed to fine, light colored hair. The narrator then proceeds to describe his mistress' cheeks and states that they are not as beautiful as the roses that he has seen. He states, "I have seen roses damasked, red and white,/But no such roses see I in her cheeks" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 5-6). This comparison not only describes…

Sources used in this document:
References

Poetic devices...and examples. (n.d.). NewsHour Extra Poetry. PBS. Accessed 28 April 2012,

from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june00/poetryboxdevicesexamples.html

Shakespeare, W. (n.d.). Sonnet 130. Poets.org. Accessed 28 April 2012, from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15557
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Shakespeare Sonnet William Shakespeare Registered
Words: 622 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

The ironic twist is the play of what is to be expected to be said and what is actually said (or, going back to the argument, what is expected from love and what actually occurs): It begins: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than her lips' red" From here the sonnet continues with a much less pleasing list of the qualities about

William Shakespeare Uses Irony, Imagery,
Words: 672 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

This suspicion becomes even more ironically clear as we read further. As we progress with the analysis of the protagonist's description of his love we find even more apparently negative comparisons. For example, he states that that in comparison to perfumes his "mistress reeks" and that music has a much more "pleasing sound" than her voice. He also states that she is no goddess in the lines, I grant I never

English Literature Chaucer & Shakespeare
Words: 1396 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

For the poet, Christianity must be devoid of the cultures of corruption and hypocrisy that prevailed during his time. Ideally, a religion, in order to be respected and followed by the people, must maintain a clean image -- that is, an image that reflects the truth of its teachings, wherein its religious principles are embodied by the people who make up the Church. It is also through "Canterbury" that Chaucer

Elizabethan Renascence
Words: 4876 Length: 15 Document Type: Research Paper

Renaissance Art An Analysis of Love in the Renaissance Art of Sidney, Shakespeare, Hilliard and Holbein If the purpose of art, as Aristotle states in the Poetics, is to imitate an action (whether in poetry or in painting), Renaissance art reflects an obsession with a particular action -- specifically, love and its many manifestations, whether eros, agape or philia. Love as a theme in 16th and 17th century poetry and art

Beowulf As a Hero Lesson
Words: 8817 Length: 19 Document Type: Journal

Your answer should be at least five sentences long. The Legend of Arthur Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 9 of 16 Journal Exercise 1.7A: Honor and Loyalty 1. Consider how Arthur's actions and personality agree with or challenge your definition of honor. Write a few sentences comparing your definition (from Journal 1.6A) with Arthur's actions and personality. 2. Write a brief paragraph explaining the importance or unimportance of loyalty in being honorable. Lesson 1 Journal

Printing Press and the Internet
Words: 6637 Length: 17 Document Type: Essay

) "Sonnet 130" by Shakespeare and "Sonnet 23" by Louis Labe both talk about love, as so many sonnets do. Their respective techniques however, differentiate them from each other. Shakespeare uses a rhyme scheme that became known as Shakespearean rhyme scheme or English rhyme. He writes about love in a sarcastic manner though. He is mocking the traditional love poems and the usual expressive manner in which women are often compared

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now