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Shakespeare And 130 And Sonnet 130 Comparison

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Using the technique of comparison, William Shakespeare describes how deep his love is for his significant other in both “Sonnet 18” and “Sonnet 130.” Shakespeare takes an unconventional approach by utilizing compare and contrast to make his point. Although he writes the sonnets differently, the moral theme happens to be the same. The two sonnets begin in total opposite tones but conclude the same. Shakespeare proves that the same underlying theme can be proved by using different poetic styles and techniques, such as rhyme scheme or comparisons, thus leads to the comparison and contrast between “Sonnet 18” and “Sonnet 130.” In “Sonnet 130,” William Shakespeare inadvertently uses blazon, a popular form of poetry during the sixteenth century, to give a detailed summary of his beloved's physical features in a negative manner. A typical blazon would describe a female's body from head to toe. It allowed writers to project an idealized woman whose features could be admired from afar. In the first four lines, “Sonnet 130” slowly reveals the conflicting image. The first line begins as a stereotypical love poem, but by the conclusion of the second line, the intent of the poem is unclear. The poem is shocking because instead of using common love poetry techniques, Shakespeare suggests that the woman he is portraying is unattractive and more beautiful things exist, for example, “coral is redder than her lips.”(Shakespeare, Sonnet 130) The poem continues in this same manner throughout, until line 12. Here Shakespeare sets a tone of criticism. Ironically, he still uses stereotypical love images such as perfume, roses and music to compare his love.
The other method used by Shakespeare in “Sonnet 130” is the element of surprise. Throughout the poem, he states a “beautiful” characteristic then shortly follows up with the diminishing of his significant other, almost giving no meaning to the characteristic previously stated. In “An Overview of “Sonnet 130,” Joanne Woolway states, “Roses are the stuff of love poetry, but the positivity of line 5 is quickly destroyed by line 6 which negatively affects the praise that the previous line had hinted. The timing is perfect; the surprise that is given from this non-comparison is far

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