Sonnet 130
MY MISTRESS' EYES ARE NOTHING LIKE THE SUN…
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
CONTENT
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
2
Background
Shakespeare deals with the conventional way of glorifying his beloved. Their love exists on a plane. This
sonnet taps on the themes of love and perception vs reality. * The primary purpose of "Sonnet 130" is to
criticize poets who overuse hyperbole to describe their romantic relationships. The speaker believes that
his love is not as beautiful as natural objects and makes comparisons between the lover and several other
attractive women, never in her favour. This sonnet's main topics are admiration, love, and outward
appearances. The poet's definition of beauty and the accepted standard of beauty are both presented in
the poem. He makes reference to his mistress's physical characteristics throughout the poem, which is why
he does not judge his love according to external criteria of beauty.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
William Shakespeare introduces the reader to a person who is being described as the key of one's heart, in
a criticizing society. Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 conveys a need to revolt against society beauty norms in
order to free oneself from pressuring traditional views of attractiveness.
3
Glossary
Coral: a hard stony substance, typically
forming large reefs in warm seas.
Known for its bright red or pink colour.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Dun: a dull, greyish-brown colour
Damasked: patterned in pinks and red Grant: admit
Rare: precious, unique
Belied: falsely portrayed
4
SONNET 130 – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
1
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
2
Coral is far more red, than her lips red:
3
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
4
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
5
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
6
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
7
And in some perfumes is there more delight
8
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
9
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
10 That music hath a far more pleasing sound:
12 My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
13 And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare,
14 As any she belied with false compare.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
11 I grant I never saw a goddess go,
5
“
In Shakespeare’s time “mistress” was a more
general reference meaning "my love" or "my
darling."
Negative comparison (simile)
not like the sun (radiant)
1.My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
”
She has very ordinary eyes. They lack lustre (shine). Not
\ as bright as the sun.
Thread like
Not a pretty picture.
4. If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
Metaphor: Her hair is compared to black wires as it is not soft and flowing,
but hard and spiky.This is a very abrupt and off-putting description.
Decorated with patterns
5. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
6. But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
She does not have blushed cheeks with a pale complexion, which was
considered to be attractive. This is also an image of good health, but
his mistress does not have this quality.
7. And in some perfumes is there more delight
8. Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Some perfumes are far more fragrant than the smell of her
breath. This is particularly shocking and offensive.
11
Slight change in the poet’s description
of his mistress. There are more positive
references than before.
9. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
10. That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
He loves to hear her speak, but the sound of music is more
gentle/pleasing to hear than the sound of her voice.
12
He admits that he had never seen a
goddess move.
11. I grant I never saw a
goddess go;
12.My mistress, when she
walks, treads on the ground:
She is not a goddess that floats or
glides when she walks. She is a very
real person who is grounded and
just plain human.
DICTION: Mocks the language of a typical Petrarchan love sonnet
that uses elegant comparisons. The poet describes his love using
the opposite of what is expected, describing her as she really is.
TONE :
Mocking conventional sonnets but serious in his meaning
MOOD:
Humorous
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
18
Contextual Question
Essay Question
Sonnet 130 – My Mistress’ Eyes, the speaker
satires conventional views on love and beauty.
With close reference to diction, imagery and
tone, discuss the validity of this statement in
relation to the poem.
Your response should be in the form of a wellconstructed essay of
250-300 words (about 1 page)
TOTAL :10 Marks
1. Explain how the structure and tone of this poem
allows the poet to emphasise the central message.
(3)
2. Who is the speaker ridiculing in the poem?
Why does he do this
(3)
2. Explain what is meant by:“ My mistress, when she
walks,treads on the ground.
(2)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
2. Show how the last line completes his argument. Refer,
in particular, to the word “false”.
(2)
19