Sonnet 130 Questions And

Essay

Questions:

Explain how the structure and tone of this poem allows the poet to emphasise the
central message.

Structure of Sonnet 130 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean Sonnet form,
with 3 quatrains representing realistic and almost critical descriptions of the mistress +
the rhyming couplet that shifts to affirm the poets genuine love. This emphasises the
central theme that love does not relay on idealised beauty.

The tone is playful and satirical as the poet mocks exaggerated comparisons, such as “My
mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” but becomes sincere in the final couplet, where he
declares his love as “ rare.” This balance between humor and honesty reinforces the idea
that true love values authenticity over false ideals.

Are Shakespeare’s observations in the quatrains cynical or not?

Explain your answer.

They are not entirely cynical. He uses humour too contrast his mistress's features with
conventional descriptions of beauty while he highlights the unrealistic nature of those
comparisons. Instead of cynicism, his observations are honest and serve to underline the
authenticity of his love. He appreciates his mistress for who she is, without the false
embellishments of exaggerated poetic conventions.

Who is the speaker ridiculing in the poem? Why does he do this?

The speaker is ridiculing poets and their overuse of clichéd and exaggerated comparisons
to describe beauty. He does this to expose the artificiality of such poetic conventions and
to emphasize the genuine, unidealized love he feels for his mistress.

Explain what is meant by: “My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.”

This line suggests that the speaker’s mistress is grounded and human, not an ethereal or
divine being. Unlike the hyperbolic descriptions of goddesses in other poems, she walks
like an ordinary person. This realistic portrayal highlights the speaker’s acceptance and
love for her as she truly is.

Refer to line 12. Comment on the effect pace has on the meaning of the line.

The pace of line 12 slows down due to the use of commas, which emphasizes each part of
the phrase. The deliberate pacing reflects the speaker’s thoughtful and grounded
observation. This reinforces the realism of his description, contrasting with the fanciful
depictions found in traditional love poetry.

Show how the last line completes his argument. Refer, in particular, to the word “false

The last line resolves the poem’s argument by asserting that his love is as rare and
valuable as any other, even if it is not adorned with "false compare." The word “false”
critiques the exaggerated comparisons that falsely idealize women, emphasizing that
genuine love does not require such fabrications.

Identify three sensory images in this poem and how they relate to the central theme

Visual (lines 1-6): "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" and "I have seen roses
damask’d, red and white." These images contrast her appearance with exaggerated ideals,
highlighting the theme of realism over idealization.

Scent-based (line 8): "The breath that from my mistress reeks" humorously contrasts
typical descriptions of sweet-smelling lovers, further grounding the poem in authenticity.

Auditory (line 10): "Music hath a far more pleasing sound." This comparison emphasizes
the human imperfections of the mistress while reinforcing the speaker's affection despite
them.

Identify the tone in lines 1-12 and how this contrasts with the tone in the last two lines.
Is this an effective shift in tone? Justify your answer.

In lines 1-12, the tone is playful, humorous, and slightly mocking as the speaker critiques
conventional beauty standards. In the final two lines, the tone shifts to sincere and
affectionate, as he declares the rarity and authenticity of his love. This shift is effective
because it underscores the poem’s central message: genuine love does not rely on
idealized comparisons but values the truth of the person.

Explain the use of “by heaven” in line 13. Why has this phrase been included?

The phrase “by heaven” serves as an oath, emphasizing the speaker’s sincerity and the
deep conviction of his declaration. It reinforces the authenticity of his love, contrasting
with the artificiality of exaggerated poetic comparisons.

Name two things to which the speaker compares his mistress.

The speaker compares his mistress' eyes to the sun, stating, "My mistress' eyes are
nothing like the sun." He also compares her hair to "black wires," implying her hair lacks
the softness and luster often celebrated in poetry.

Outline five features of a Shakespearean' sonnet that you can identify.

Fourteen Lines: The poem consists of exactly 14 lines.

Iambic Pentameter: Each line has ten syllables, typically with alternating stressed and
unstressed beats.
Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme follows the pattern ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
Three Quatrains and a Couplet: The sonnet is divided into three four-line quatrains,
followed by a rhyming couplet.
Thematic Structure: The first three quatrains develop a specific idea, and the final couplet
provides a resolution or twist, where the speaker concludes that his love is as "rare" as
any falsely idealized woman.

How does the metaphor of music in stanza 3 impact on your understanding of the
poem?
The metaphor of music in line 10 ("That music hath a far more pleasing sound") highlights
the speaker's honest and grounded love. While he admits that music is more melodious
than his mistress' voice, it emphasizes his acceptance of her imperfections. This
reinforces the idea that love is not based on unrealistic comparisons or idealizations but
on genuine affection.

Discuss whether you think the speaker's love is sincere.

The speaker's love appears sincere because he rejects false comparisons and
idealizations, instead appreciating his mistress as she truly is. His declaration in the final
couplet ("And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false
compare") shows that he values authenticity over superficial perfection, which reflects
genuine love.

What use of diction is made, and how does it affect the rest of Sonnet 130?

The diction is deliberately plain and realistic, using words like "black wires," "dun,"
and "reeks" to reject hyperbolic descriptions of beauty found in conventional love poetry.
This straightforward language reinforces the poem's theme of authentic love, contrasting
with the ornate diction typical of the sonnet form.

What is an explanation is an explanation for both the literal and figurative meaning of
Sonnet 130?

Literal Meaning: The speaker describes his mistress in realistic terms, pointing out that her
physical features do not conform to conventional standards of beauty.
Figurative Meaning: The poem critiques the tradition of idealized love poetry, arguing that
true love does not require exaggerated or false comparisons. It celebrates the mistress's
individuality and the speaker's genuine affection for her.
What does the line mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" literally mean?

Literally, the speaker is saying that his mistress' eyes do not shine brightly or radiantly like
the sun. This is a rejection of the exaggerated metaphors often used in love poetry,
emphasizing realism over idealization.

Essay
In an essay of approximately 250-300 words, critically discuss the poet's comments on
the sincerity of love. Your answer should refer to the conventions of a sonnet.

In Sonnet 130, William Shakespeare offers a witty and unconventional take on the sincerity
of love by rejecting the exaggerated comparisons often found in traditional love poetry.
This sonnet, a Shakespearean sonnet with its characteristic 14 lines, iambic pentameter,
and ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme, adheres to the conventions of the form while
simultaneously challenging poetic norms.

Shakespeare subverts the idealized imagery typically used to praise a beloved. Instead of
likening his mistress to celestial or divine qualities, he uses starkly realistic descriptions:
her eyes lack the brilliance of the sun, her lips are less red than coral, and her breath is
less fragrant than perfume. By doing so, the poet critiques the insincerity of love poems
that rely on false comparisons to elevate the subject’s beauty. Lines like "If hairs be wires,
black wires grow on her head" highlight his refusal to conform to these poetic
conventions.

The volta, or shift in tone, occurs in the concluding couplet, where Shakespeare reveals
the depth of his love. He declares, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any
she belied with false compare." Here, the poet emphasizes that true love does not depend
on exaggerated or idealized descriptions. Instead, it thrives in the honest
acknowledgment of a person’s real qualities. This sentiment reflects a sincere and
grounded perspective on love, valuing authenticity over superficial embellishment.

By rejecting the artificiality of conventional sonnets while adhering to their structure,

Shakespeare critiques the insincerity of romantic hyperbole and affirms that genuine love
is not diminished by imperfection. His playful yet profound approach makes Sonnet 130 a
 Sonnet 130 - William Shakespeare

Poem & Definitions

hard, stoney red, pink

or white formations
produced by sea
creatures as external dull grey-brown
skeleton
hair was compared to golden thread or wire

pink in colour

Summary
smells unpleasant

• Sonnet 130 is a Shakespearean sonnet that develops an argument through 3 quatrains

↳ conclusion to argument is in the rhyming couplet

• Instead of idealising the mistress, shakespeare describes her in plain and sincere terms
↳ but he does declare his love for her

• Shakespeare mocks metaphorical cliches by telling the truth about the mistresses appearance
• Typical English rose would not have a "dun" complexion or have "wines" for hair
• Shakespeare uses the rigid rhythm of the sonnet and rhyme structure to build to conclusion
• final couplet → insists that real love
showed that something was untrue does not need false tributes and any woman can be beautiful

Form and Meter

1. The Shakespearean sonnet, like other sonnets, has 14 lines.
2. It has 3 quatrains and a rhyming couplet.
3. Rhymescheme:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; A

Coral is far more red than her lips' red; B
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; A
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. B

For the whole poem, the rhyme scheme would be ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

4. The last two lines is the couplet;a Shakespearean sonnet always ends with two rhyming lines, one right after the other.

5. Shakespearian sonnets are written in iambic pentameter:

↳ Rhythm: dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM, dee DUM.
↳ It consists of a line of five iambic feet, ten syllables, with 5 unstressed and 5 stressed syllables.
↳ It is the first and the last sound we ever hear; it is the human heartbeat.
↳ Iambic Pentameter? ( Iambic penta meter)
↳ An “iamb” is “ dee DUM” – it sounds like a heartbeat.
↳ Penta is the Greek word for five.
↳ Meter is really the pattern.
↳ So there are five iambs per line!
Example: The stressed syllables in capital letters, would read, “my MIStress” EYES are NOthing LIKE the SUN.”

6. Finally, sonnets often have a surprising twist to them towards the end; in this poem, the twist comes when the reader
sees that, despite his criticisms, the author does actually love his mistress.
Line By Line Analysis
actually his partner/love

① My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

↳ speaker jumps into anti-love poem by saying her eyes are nothing like the sun
• In next few lines:
↳ the comparisons are realistic and not exaggerated
↳ speaker refuses to used metaphors that are cliche
② Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
• Typically beautiful women have red lips but not this women
③ If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
• Her breasts are treated the same as her lips as there is zero exaggeration
• Poets normally praise women for having skin as white as snow but the speaker calls them grey-brown
• Changes:
↳ 1st 2 lines → we hear the woman is just not like coral or the sun but in this line she is described as "dun"
which makes her sound ugly as it is usually a word
used to describe horses
④ If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
• If a poet wanted to be sentimental + sweet he might compare his
lover’s hair to something soft and shiny, likseilk.
↳ however in the sonnet the mistress’s hair iscompared to black wires sticking
out of the top of her head
• The whole point of this poem is to push backagainst standard ways of talking about women in poems → not
necessarily badthat she has frizzy black hair
⑤ I have seen roses damasked, red and whit,e
⑥ But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
• imagine a rose with a white + red patternon it, or maybe a bouquet of red and white roses.
↳ Our speaker has seen beautiful roses ofall colours and patterns but the
mistress’s cheeks don’t remind him of themat all.
Some perfectly beautiful woman has cheeksthat are white with just a little
blush of red,but that’s not the woman he’s talking about.
⑦ And in some perfumes is there more delight
⑧ Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
• The speaker tells us that some perfumes smell better (give more “
delight”) than this woman’s breath. (Apparently it stinks)
↳ So far the speaker said that his mistress’s eyes aren’t that great,
her lips aren’t that red, that her skin is yellowish, that her hair is like
wires, that her cheeks are nothing like roses, and that her breath
reeks. She is not a goddess. She is human.
⑨ I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
⑩ That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
• After all of that criticism → speaker starts to get a little bit nicer
↳ He admits that he really does “love to hear her speak”.
• The word “yet” in the middle of line 9 gets us ready for a negative comparison (It’s like saying, “You’re really
great, but...”)
• In line 10, we get the negative half of that thought: he thinks that music is
more pleasing than the sound of her voice.
⑪ I grant I never saw a goddess go;
⑫ My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
• Again a thought is split over two lines.
• In line 11, the speaker essentially tells us that he’s willing to admit
that he’s never seen a goddess move → now when the speaker
finishes his thought on line 12, he’s not actually being mean at all,
just stating the facts. His mistress isn’t a goddess. She doesn’t fly
or soar or float along. She just walks (treads) like a normal
person, on the ground.
⑬ And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
⑭ As any she belied with false compare.
• The speaker thinks that his lover is as wonderful (“rare”) woman
when compared to others (“any she”), especially those who are
made to look beautiful with make-up (“belied”) and exaggerated
comparison (“false compare”)
• These last two lines are the payoff for the whole poem → they drive
home the speaker’s main point, that unlike other people who write
sonnets, he doesn’t need flowery terms or fancy comparisons. He
can just tell his mistress, plainly and simply, that he loves her for
who she is.