An Analysis of Sonnet 130 Essay

Iambic Pentameter The poem uses an iambic pentameter, a rhythmic object used in sonnets. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEF GG, and is split into three quatrains and a rime couplet. It contains 10 syllables per line, with syllables alternating between unstressed and stressed when communicate aloud. This gives the sonnet the effect of sounding like a regular make do poem, but upon closer examination of the words used we can articulate that the poem and its intentions are completely different.The concluding Couplet In praise 130, the persona describes the womanhood with unflattering terms such as down in the mouth wires grow on her head and in the breath from that my mistress reeks. However, tied(p) though he points out her numerous flaws he still declares his passionateness for her, suggesting that he embraces all her traits and characteristics and acknowledges her nonetheless. This is further exemplified in the final couplet of the poem, And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare as all she belied with false comparing. This sudden contrast, scorn being contradictory to the previous lines of the poem, is crucial in showing that regardless of her flaws he is still wholly in love with her. Throughout the poem, the persona compares his mistress to that of an imaginary, perfect woman. However, in the run low lines we see that the persona chooses the real woman with all her imperfections over the goddess he has never seen. Rhyme Alternating rhymes The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEF GG. Sun rhymes with fawn, red and head, and so on, before culture with rare and compare.This enhances the image of a seemingly dull woman that the persona describes the woman in question is said to have breasts which are dun, suggesting that she is sexually unattractive. Her lips are contrasted with that of coral, Coral far more red than her lips red. Red is the falsify of sensuality, and thus the persona is stating that she is not a sensual woman. The effect that this rh yming scheme gives is to contrast the personas definition of beauty as a part of nature and the womans flaws.Third Quatrain and Final Couplet The persona declares that he would love to hear her speak, despite her voice being less beautiful than music. This is the first time in the poem that praise has been conferred upon the personas mistress. He then goes on to compare the woman with that of a goddess, the highest being and his imperfect mistress. The final lines preface a change in the rhyming scheme, with a couplet ending the rhythmic three quatrains.The couplet is used to introduce a newly idea, that despite the womans flaws, the persona s love for her is higher(prenominal) than that of the heavens. This highlights a key theme of the poem regardless of the womans physical flaws and looks, the persona is able to see past her looks and still be beautiful in his eyes. This is significant because in the Shakespearean Era, the role of women was to divert man with a beautiful face and body, and here we see Shakespeare expressing his love for a woman who did not possess many of these qualities.