Week Two, DB2 Prompt 1
1. Shakespeare's sonnet "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" begins with what might be called a reverse simile (an anti-simile?). Throughout the poem, the speaker alludes to common figurative language for describing a woman's beauty in the love poetry of his day: e.g., eyes like the sun, lips like coral, breasts as white as snow, rosy cheeks, perfumed breath, musical voice. What is Shakespeare doing with these familiar examples of figurative language in this poem? Does his poem end up praising his beloved or criticizing her?
In Shakespeare’s sonnet “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130),” Shakespeare is actually doing a very great service to romanticize this woman. The other poets of his day were grossly exaggerating the women they hold in high esteem, making normalcy seem rather unappealing. By explaining that his mistress is quite regular, even human, yet he still “by heaven” thought his love was as rare as any of those who made false claims (Shakespeare 835). …show more content…
Shakespeare acknowledges his mistress’ voice is not musical; her tread is not angel-like, travelling as if she were floating just above the surface (Shakespeare 835). Shakespeare writes that his mistress’ cheeks do not resemble roses; and her skin is not fair and her hair is not soft, but that he loves her all the same (Shakespeare, 835). The other poets probably thought they were being romantic, but, somehow, Shakespeare manages to one-up them and poke fun at the same
1. Shakespeare's sonnet "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" begins with what might be called a reverse simile (an anti-simile?). Throughout the poem, the speaker alludes to common figurative language for describing a woman's beauty in the love poetry of his day: e.g., eyes like the sun, lips like coral, breasts as white as snow, rosy cheeks, perfumed breath, musical voice. What is Shakespeare doing with these familiar examples of figurative language in this poem? Does his poem end up praising his beloved or criticizing her?
In Shakespeare’s sonnet “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130),” Shakespeare is actually doing a very great service to romanticize this woman. The other poets of his day were grossly exaggerating the women they hold in high esteem, making normalcy seem rather unappealing. By explaining that his mistress is quite regular, even human, yet he still “by heaven” thought his love was as rare as any of those who made false claims (Shakespeare 835). …show more content…
Shakespeare acknowledges his mistress’ voice is not musical; her tread is not angel-like, travelling as if she were floating just above the surface (Shakespeare 835). Shakespeare writes that his mistress’ cheeks do not resemble roses; and her skin is not fair and her hair is not soft, but that he loves her all the same (Shakespeare, 835). The other poets probably thought they were being romantic, but, somehow, Shakespeare manages to one-up them and poke fun at the same