Question

Directions: 

1. Read and re-read the poem. 

2. Annotate the poem 

a. Identify figurative language 

b. Translate lines you’re struggling with 

c. Look up any difficult words and write their definitions in 

3. Answer the Poem Analysis questions 


Sonnet 130 – William Shakespeare 


My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; 

Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; 

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

 If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. 

I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, 

But no such roses see I in her cheeks; 

And in some perfumes is there more delight 

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

 I love to hear her speak, yet well I know 

That music hath a far more pleasing sound; 

I grant I never saw a goddess go; 

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: 

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare 

As any she belied with false compare. 









NOW ANALYZE THE POEM BELOW:

Poem Analysis 

Literal Meaning 

After you read the poem, 

What does the literal meaning seem to be? 

What is happening in the poem? 

Answer these 2 questions in complete sentences



Imagery 

Pick out three uses of sensory details/imagery and 

Write them below (this will most likely be a phrase or line from the poem), then 

Explain what the poet is trying to convey with this image. 


Write answers in complete sentences


1. IMAGE: 


MEANING:



2. IMAGE: 


MEANING:



3. IMAGE: 


MEANING:



​

Answer 1

2.

This sonnet compares the speaker's lover to a number of other beauties and never in the lover's favor. Her eyes are “nothing like the sun,” her lips are less red than coral; compared to white snow, her breasts are dun-colored, and her hairs are like black wires on her head.

a) Shakespeare uses one simile - "My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun", one metaphor - "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. "

and one personification - "Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;

b) My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun - Her body is not like some traditional beautiful object but one of it's kind.

c) Coral means Pink

Belied means Contradict

3.

In the poem what is happening is that

this sonnet compares the speaker's lover to a number of other beauties—and never in the lover's favor. Her eyes are “nothing like the sun,” her lips are less red than coral; compared to white snow, her breasts are dun-colored, and her hairs are like black wires on her head.

THREE USES OF SENSORY DETAILS/IMAGERY

Shakespeare uses imagery in "Sonnet 130" to parody conventional Petrarchan love language. For example, he notes that his lover's eyes are not like the "sun," her lips are not "coral," her cheeks are not "roses," and her breath is not always like "perfumes." Nevertheless, he still loves her dearly.