Sonnet 130 Flashcards
What is the main theme of Sonnet 130?
The relationship between two lovers, focusing on the male poet’s perspective of his mistress, highlighting the absurdity of conventional beauty comparisons.
How does Shakespeare describe his mistress’s eyes?
He states, ‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun’, rejecting conventional beauty standards.
What is the structure of Sonnet 130?
It is an English or Shakespearean sonnet consisting of 14 lines, organized into three quatrains and a final couplet.
What is the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 130?
The rhyme scheme is alternate rhyme in the quatrains (abab, cdcd, efef) with a rhyming couplet at the end.
What rhythm is used in Sonnet 130?
The poem employs regular iambic pentameter, consisting of 10-syllable lines with five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables.
What is the purpose of the structured regularity in Sonnet 130?
It assists the poet in delivering his argument in a neat, controlled, and memorable way.
What literary device is used in the opening line of Sonnet 130?
A simile is used, expressed negatively to undermine conventional beauty standards.
How does Shakespeare describe his mistress’s lips?
He compares them unfavorably to coral, stating ‘coral is far more red’ than her lips.
What comparison does Shakespeare make regarding his mistress’s breasts?
He states they are ‘dun’, not as white as ‘snow’, further undermining conventional comparisons.
What does Shakespeare compare his mistress’s hair to?
He compares her hair to ‘wires’, ridiculing unrealistic comparisons in poetry.
How does Shakespeare describe his mistress’s cheeks?
He compares them to ‘roses damask’d’, suggesting they pale in comparison to the beauty of crafted roses.
What comparison does Shakespeare make regarding his mistress’s breath?
He contrasts her breath with perfumes, using the word ‘reeks’, which historically meant ‘smokes’.
What is the significance of the line ‘I love to hear her speak’?
It is the first direct compliment in the poem, emphasizing that Shakespeare’s intent is not to criticize his mistress.
How does Shakespeare conclude Sonnet 130?
He asserts that his mistress is as ‘rare’ and special to him as any woman misrepresented by false comparisons.
What does Shakespeare imply about exaggerated language in poetry?
He suggests it is ridiculous and wrong to employ exaggerated language when praising human features.
Who is William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is possibly the most famous name in world literature, known for his plays and poetry during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras.
What does Shakespeare mock in Sonnet 130?
He mocks the hyperbolic language and unrealistic comparisons used by other poets of his time.
