...Interpretation of Sonnet 138 William Shakespeare is known for his ability to use words and put them in a way many meanings can be derived. Because of the beauty of his words and many interpretations of his work, he has stood the test of time. William Shakespeare simultaneously used structure, word choice, and tone to make each sonnet unique. All of Shakespeare’s sonnets are structured to have fourteen lines divided into three quatrains and one couplet. The quatrains are usually separate ideas with different tones and a couplet at the end of the sonnet tying the three quatrains together. However Sonnet 138 is slightly different than most of his sonnets because its first two quatrains are the same in tone. The first quatrain and second quatrains tell the reader of each lover’s deceit to the other. The third quatrain is where the tone begins to differ. Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter and rhyme in the sonnet so that it can be read in a more fluid and comprehensive way. The sonnet is written in ABAB format to give the poem a better sound when read aloud. Shakespeare’s work has been famous for many reasons and will continue to be great, but his word usage may be what he is most famous for. In Sonnet 138, he used word plays, paradoxes, and metaphors to give depth to the meaning of the poem. With so many different possibilities for interpretation of the same poem, individuals may use their imaginations and take what they want from it. Line 1 in the sonnet begins with an interesting...
Words: 834 - Pages: 4
...Poem Analysis Essay ENGL 102 B07: Literature and Composition Summer 2011 Linda Vaughn L24421443 June 19, 2011 APA Style Outline I. Introduction A. Thesis II. Body A. Figures of Speech B. Imagery C. Tone IV. Conclusion Introduction Who, at one point or another in their life, has not pleaded with God for some tangible, physical help? Asking Him to take over, prove Himself, so that we can know that He is real and we can give our heart to Him. In the poem “Batter my heart, three-personed God”, written by poet John Donne, the speaker is asking God for exactly that. With his use of metaphors, paradoxes, and alliteration, we can actually feel the speaker’s urgency to be saved. The violent imagery and changes in tone throughout the poem prove just how desperate he is for God to take over control of him. Body The title itself, with the metaphor “Batter my heart”, draws the reader in. It captures the attention and makes one curious as to what will happen next in the poem. It gives the reader an image of destruction to an essential essence of life; for without a heart, we cannot survive. Is he stating that there is no life without God? The title also provides the initial tone of the poem. It gives the reader the impression that the speaker is desperate, vulnerable, and seeks to be violently manipulated. As we move on, we find that the speaker believes in the Holy Trinity, as he is pleading to the “three personed God”. ...
Words: 1312 - Pages: 6
...Savanah Saunders ENGL102 Jason Sebacher March 5, 2014 Essentially I feel that each poem in its own “Funeral Blues” (W. H. Auden), “Death, be not proud” (John Donne), and “Because I could not stop for Death” (Emily Dickinson) are unique in their own way however, I feel that two poems in particular may show more similarity in each other versus all three being compared at once although, I will be comparing and contrasting all three poems towards the end of this essay. For example, When reading “Funeral Blues” (W. H. Auden), I felt a greater sense of similarity to “Because I could not stop for death” (Emily Dickinson) versus “Death, be not proud” (John Donne) so I will begin to discuss those poems first. When comparing each poem I will list the related styles between the two and the same for contrasting each when discussing the distinctive differences. In “Funeral Blues”; a poem about the mourning of a dear loved one, Auden used a great sense of imagery when writing to assist the audience in creating a mental picture. Each line used a great amount of detail for example, when Auden wrote “Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead scribbling in the sky the message he is dead.” It was easy for me to actually picture this statement mentally due to his choice of words. Also, he uses a rhyme scheme that is successful in expressing the deep mourning and sorrow that he feels. The same feelings expressed in “Funeral Blues” can also be felt in “Because I could not stop for death”...
Words: 1055 - Pages: 5
...Death, Be Not Proud “Death, Be Not Proud” is a nonfiction sonnet written by John Donne, in which the speaker takes on Death, claiming it to be boastful and proud unjustifiably. The speaker takes a stand against the oppressive nature of Death, and asserts that a greater effect can take place through the use of simple human means, such as “poppies, or charms.” In fact, Donne ultimately claims that death has no real effect, and could conceivably be a relief, as we will “wake eternally.” He alleges that in the end, the only thing to die is Death itself. Throughout the poem, Donne talks to death as though he is speaking to it directly. This use of personification is of use, especially when the author is seemingly patronizing death, calling it “poor Death.” He exploits Death’s dependence on accidents, mistakes, and misfortune. According to Donne, Death is at the mercy of “Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men.” He demeans Death’s endeavors to such an extent that he pokes fun at its bleak and undesirable affiliates, “poison, war and sickness.” In giving death the role of something tangible, Donne is certainly aiming to take control and humble a force that is seen to most as unnerving. By establishing supremacy, it seems as though John Donne is trying to convince others to adopt the same attitude as he. Considering his obvious belief in heaven through the phrase “wake eternally,” Donne is proudly claiming to have conquered death because of his acceptance of the Christian afterlife...
Words: 558 - Pages: 3
...Narrative A narrative is a sequence of events that a narrator tells in story form. A narrator is a storyteller of any kind, whether the authorial voice in a novel or a friend telling you about last night’s party. Point of View The point of view is the perspective that a narrative takes toward the events it describes. First-person narration: A narrative in which the narrator tells the story from his/her own point of view and refers to him/herself as “I.” The narrator may be an active participant in the story or just an observer. When the point of view represented is specifically the author’s, and not a fictional narrator’s, the story is autobiographical and may be nonfictional (see Common Literary Forms and Genres below). Third-person narration: The narrator remains outside the story and describes the characters in the story using proper names and the third-person pronouns “he,” “she,” “it,” and “they.” • Omniscient narration: The narrator knows all of the actions, feelings, and motivations of all of the characters. For example, the narrator of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina seems to know everything about all the characters and events in the story. • Limited omniscient narration: The narrator knows the actions, feelings, and motivations of only one or a handful of characters. For example, the narrator of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has full knowledge of only Alice. • Free indirect discourse: The narrator conveys a character’s inner thoughts...
Words: 12257 - Pages: 50
...E.E. Cummings Stewart, Mekala Freshmen Research Report Mr. D. Freitag 24 February 2012 Work Cited “Cummings, Edward Estel (1894). “The Reader’s Encyclopedia 1955. ‘Cummings, E.E.,” World Authors 1900-1950 (199610: Biography Reference Bank (H.W. Wilson). Web. 27 Jan. 2012. “E.E. Cummings 1894-1962” American Writers I 1972. “E.E. Cummings In Depth” Authors Depth Silver Level 200. Kennedy, Richard S. ‘E.E. Cummings 1894-1962.” The Health Anthology of American Literature Second Edition Volume 2. Ed. Paul Lauter Lingston: D. Health and Company, 1994. Edward Estel Cummings was not much a modernist as one who dressed up in traditional uniforms (Cummings E.E 4). Cummings was a daring uncompromised and consistent (Cummings E.E. 4). Cummings regarded poetry as not much a product but more as a process (Cummings E.E. 2). The skinny shakings down the page of his poems underscores his vitality (Cummings E.E. 2). With his harsh satirical verse as well as his cerotic poems serve to identify humans as a social inonclast (Kennedy 1421). E.E. Cummings once said that poetry is “the only thing that matters (Authors in Depth 182). Cummings gave people life at a time when they needed it (Cummings, E.E. 4). Edward Estel Cummings born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1894. (Authors in Depth 182). Cummings is the son of Edward Cummings, a Veteran minister (Kennedy 1421). Also known as an clergy man and professor...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
...Karmvir Sidhu ENG 111 - 64 Sandra E. Terry Feb 7, 2011 Sonnet 130: Imperfectly Perfect The secular world is increasingly fixated on the concept of beauty and the pursuit of perfection, however this preoccupation is not unique to the 20th century. While traditional love poems in the 18th century generally focused on glorifying a woman's beauty, Sonnet 130 written by William Shakespeare goes against the conventional culture of love poems and instead describes the realistic nature of his object of affection. In Sonnet 130, the idea of love and is intensely expressed and taken to a greater level of intimacy where beauty lies within an individual and not just on the surface. The allegorical meaning is presented through images that allow the reader to understand the poem beyond its literal meaning. In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, the notion of perfection is evaluated to a point where it is almost made irrelevant in relation to beauty and true love. In Sonnet 130, it seems as if William Shakespeare laughs at the idea of idealism and perfection. The expressions of discontent and dissatisfaction give the poem a satiric tone. This poem is written in Shakespearean iambic pentameter, commonly used by Shakespeare in many of his poems. It follows the ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG rhyme scheme. The first 12 lines are all rhyming pairs, followed by the rhyming couplet. In the first 4 lines of the poem the speaker expresses his lady’s lack of perfection and almost complains about how she does...
Words: 1013 - Pages: 5
...My Galley by Thomas Wyatt the Elder "A rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain ", Sir Thomas Wyatt words in “My Galley”. Wyatt was a 16th-century English lyrical poet attributed to introducing the sonnet into English. Thomas Wyatt was born to Henry and Anne Wyatt at Allington Castle, near Maidstone, Kent, in 1503. Little is known of his childhood education. He was remarkably gifted man. His first court appearance was in 1516 as Sewer Extraordinary to Henry VIII. In 1516 he also entered St. John's College, University of Cambridge. Around 1520, when he was only seventeen years old, he married Lord Cobham's daughter Elizabeth Brooke. She bore him a son, Thomas Wyatt, the Younger, in 1521. He became popular at court, and carried out several foreign missions for King Henry VIII, and also served various offices at home. Wyatt’s “My Galley” is a sonnet typically ranges according to the tradition of Petrarchan. It has the same five rhymes a, b, c, d, e, and can be divided in two parts which is octave and sestet. The sonnet was written by Sir Thomas Wyatt in 1557 during the Renaissance Period in England. The subject matter of a poem can range from being funny to being sad. Wyatt uses of metaphor and imagery presented a quite pessimistic view. Wyatt is talking about despair, and probably means religious despair. It seems to me that he wrote about the 'sin' of losing your faith in God. He uses the common metaphor of a ship in trouble at sea. " ”My Galley” charged with forgetfulness...
Words: 1751 - Pages: 8
..."l(a" is a poem by E. E. Cummings. It is the first poem in his 1958 collection 95 Poems.[1] "l(a" is arranged vertically in groups of one to five letters. When the text is laid out horizontally, it reads as l(a leaf falls)oneliness —in other words, a leaf falls inserted within the first two letters of loneliness.[2] Robert DiYanni notes that the image of a single falling leaf is a common symbol for loneliness, and that this sense of loneliness is enhanced by the structure of the poem. He writes that the fragmentation of the words "illustrates visually the separation that is the primary cause of loneliness". The fragmentation of the word loneliness is especially significant, since it highlights the fact that that word contains the word one. In addition, the isolated letter l can initially appear to be the numeral one.[3] Robert Scott Root-Bernstein observes that the overall shape of the poem resembles a 1.[4] Further suggestions for interpretation (collected at an English language-class in Germany in the 1980ies, all underlining the “loneliness”) may be: • The “a” in the first line (as indefinite article) represents singularity. • The “le” in the second line is the French equivalent to “the” (again “singularity”). • If the first letters of line 6 to 9 are read downward, they read “soli”, which in Latin means “only”. • e.e. cummings's "L(a". • Measured by sheer boldness of experiment, no American poet compares to him, for he slipped Houdini-like...
Words: 1783 - Pages: 8
...To what extent does Donne present the lovers as equal in “To His Mistress Going To Bed”? According to the Platonic formulation, beauty is ranked in several stages where we begin by being attracted to a single beautiful person, then beautiful minds, on to beautiful ideas, and finally, to beauty itself. In the poem, it appears that the narrator is stuck on the first rung. He is simply blinded by his mistress’ beauty; unable to describe anything other than her appearance and subsequently treats her as an object as opposed to an intelligent being. Unlike much of Donne’s other poetry which tends to prefer pure and platonic love as opposed to lust, making this poem unusual amongst his other works. This may seem to establish the narrator as subjectively superior and thus the lovers unequal. However on closer analysis this may be found not to be the case as the poem points to the mistress having an unassuming power over the narrator. The woman’s role is established even before the poem begins as Donne describes her as “His Mistress”. The use of the possessive “His” implies ownership and foreshadows the domination that the narrator will lord over her throughout the poem. The term “mistress”, because it is not clearly defined who the woman is in relation to Donne, forces readers to make assumptions about the connotations behind the word and how it reflects upon the unknown woman. To a contemporary audience the word would most likely be interpreted as her having a sexual role in the play...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
...Comparing ‘Love That Doth Reign and Live within My Thought’ with the Unseen - Dr. Helen Fisher’s ideas about love The poem ‘Love That Doth Reign and Live within My Thought’ was written by Henry Howard, the son of the Duke of Norfolk who was executed for treason at the age of 30. It deals with themes of confusion of love, love itself, and death. He talks about a man being in love with a woman who does not return his feelings, this is also known as ‘courtly love’ and Henry was one of the first to introduce unrequited love as a main subject in the 16th century. The form of this poem is in a Shakespearean sonnet made up of 14 lines (3 quatrains followed by a final rhyming couplet) and is a translation of a Petrarchan sonnet. It follows the rhyme scheme ‘abab, cdcd’ and so forth, and uses inverted feet – this portrays the poem as quite masculine. Because this poem was written so long ago, there is a lot of archaic lexis and sophisticated language for example: ‘ire’ and ‘eke’ thus immediately showing the reader the time period that this poem was written in. The narrative stance of this poem is in 1st person, but mainly in the 3rd person – describing a knight. The unseen text is written by a biological anthropologist named Helen Fisher, straight away this makes it apparent to the reader that this is a more analytical and scientific view of love. Both texts talk about love, however she talks more about lust and intimacy. In paragraph one she supports love and talks about the symptoms...
Words: 552 - Pages: 3
...Because poetry’s origin dates back before the dawn of literacy, it is still more of an auditory art form than a written one. In the earliest days of the art form, poems were recited or sung. Even today, at clubs and coffeehouses around the world, aspiring artists approach microphones and recite their poetry to their audiences. Poetry, more than any other form of literature, is written for the ear rather than the eye. Put another way, by The Norton Anthology of Poetry, “A poem is a composition written for performance by the human voice.” (Ferguson, Salter, & Stallworthy, p. 2027) For this reason, the poet takes great care to craft his or her work so that it has the desired effect on the audience. In Thomas Wyatt’s 16th-century poem, “They Flee From Me,” the narrator is remembering something he has lost, and the form of the poem does an effective job of conveying the speaker’s sorrow at this loss. “With naked foot” At the beginning of the poem, it would be easy to infer that the narrator is referring to some sort of animal. “I have seen them gentle tame and meek/That now are wild and do not remember.” (Wyatt, p. 127) However, the term “naked foot” in the second line offers a clue that the narrator is speaking of a human being. He did not, after all, use an animal term like “hoof” or “paw.” The beings that used to visit the narrator’s chamber are likely human. “The anguish none can draw” The second stanza of the poem begins, “Hidden in the cap/Is the anguish none can draw...
Words: 886 - Pages: 4
...Carl Sandburg Although Carl Sandburg had a hard life and a rough time growing up, he expressed himself through writing. Carl Sandburg was a famous poet. Sandburg wrote forty-nine different pieces of poetry. Most of Sandburg’s poems were about human nature. Sandburg had a huge impact on many different peoples lives. Many people influenced Carl Sandburg. As a salesman, Sandburg learned about human nature, which influenced him to start writing. Harriet Monroe, a fellow poet encouraged Carl Sandburg to keep writing, free verse in particular. Poetry connected Sandburg to many different strands of American life. Walt Whitman was a huge inspiration to Sandburg. Once he heard Whitman’s pieces, he instantly was inspired. Carl Sandburg had many different themes of writing. Sandburg’s most common theme was free verse. He had many different pieces that was about him expressing himself and how he feels about different topics. Sandburg’s pieces had a big statement that standed out. Sandburg's poems occasionally sound very blunt and boring but oddly they change your perspective and how you look at things. Carl was such a good example of a great man when it came to his writing. He didn’t care what people thought about him, he just wanted people to understand his point of view, and where he was coming from. He also wanted people to understand some of the hurt in this world that nobody realizes. Carl Sandburg’s poems are very inspiring to people and make them think. Carl was a very inspirational...
Words: 553 - Pages: 3
...In his poem, “A Sonnet,” Dante Gabriel Rossetti uses a series of paradoxical statements and concepts to demonstrate the sonnet’s multi-faceted character and importance. Likewise, Christina Rossetti’s poem, “In an Artist’s Studio,” also uses juxtaposition to illustrate the binary nature of paintings. However, these poems interpret these dualities in opposite ways; while Dante uses binaries to celebrate the depth and diversity of art, Christina ultimately uses them to establish an inherent inauthenticity about art. These divergent interpretations largely depend on how each poet attempts to reconcile art’s duality into one complete concept. While Dante portrays the sonnet as a composite of two distinct characters, these two characters...
Words: 1434 - Pages: 6
...Answer : Metaphysical poetry, in an etymological sense, is poetry on subjects which exist beyond the physical world. In other words, it is a type of poetry dealing with abstract or philosophical subjects such as love, religion, God, beauty, faith and so on. But in reality the poetry which comprises the ideas or aspects that – physical love leading to spiritual union or religious, argumentative presentation of emotion, terseness of expression, use of conceit and wit in profusion, skillful use of colloquial language instead of Elizabethan lucid diction with the abrupt opening can be considered to be metaphysical. Originally the term ‘ Metaphysical Poetry ’ was coined by John Dryden and later popularised by Samuel Johnson and the features of the school which unite the various authors are quite numerous. As well as making widespread use of conceit, paradox and punning, the metaphysical poets drew their imagery from all sources of knowledge particularly from science, theology, geography and philosophy. However, John Donne is the founder of the school of metaphysical poetry and the other practitioners of the type of poetry are Crashaw, Cowley, Denham, Davenant, Herbert, Marvell , Vaughan and Waller . The most striking quality of Donne’s poetry is the use of metaphysical conceit which is a figure of speech in which two far fetched objects or images of very different nature are compared. It surprises its readers by its ingenious discovery and delights them by...
Words: 1206 - Pages: 5
