Lecture Notes: William Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 130'

Introduction

• Topic: Analysis of William Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 130'.
• Context: Part of the new poetry for English Home Language curriculum.

Beauty Ideals

• Modern Ideals: Curvy but fit bodies, flawless skin, full eyebrows, extended eyelashes, etc.
• Elizabethan Ideals:
  • Soft blonde or red hair
  • High forehead
  • Pale white skin
  • Shiny blue eyes
  • Rosy cheeks
  • Red lips

Overview of 'Sonnet 130'

• Purpose: Shakespeare satirises the exaggerated and unrealistic descriptions by Petrarchan poets.
• Theme: Real beauty and love versus exaggerated comparisons.

Poem Analysis

• Lines 1-4: Use of similes and metaphors to describe the mistress realistically:
  • Her eyes are not as bright as the sun.
  • Coral is redder than her lips.
  • Her skin is a dull brown, not white like snow.
  • Her hair is compared to black wires, not soft and blonde.
• Lines 5-6: Her cheeks are not rosy like decorated roses.
• Lines 7-8: Her breath is compared to perfume, not as lovely.
• Lines 9-10: Her voice is not as pleasing as music.
• Lines 11-12: She walks like a normal human, not like a goddess.
• Lines 13-14 (Rhyming Couplet):
  • Volta: Shift in tone, emphasizes true love without false comparison.
  • The speaker values her uniqueness and sincerity.

Shakespeare's Commentary

• Uses Elizabethan beauty ideals to challenge and mock them.
• Affirmation of true love, independent of exaggerated metaphors.
• Asserts that women do not need to meet unrealistic ideals to be beautiful.

Form and Structure

• Shakespearean Sonnet Structure:
  • 14 lines, 3 quatrains, and a final rhyming couplet.
  • Rhyme scheme: a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g.
• Volta: Change in tone and ideas at the rhyming couplet.
• Iambic Pentameter: Poem's rhythmic structure.

Tone

• Overall: Satirical, humorous, and mocking of exaggerated comparisons.
• In Couplet: Honest, appreciative, and accepting.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to subscribe and follow for more content on new Grade 12 poetry.
• Future content will include explanations on rhyme schemes and iambic pentameter.

Notes prepared from a presentation on William Shakespeare’s 'Sonnet 130'. Further content will be available on related poetry topics.