y/geninfo/collections/special/bann edbooks/quotes.htm “My Mistress eyes” Marisa Fiorentino Radamus Roche III

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon- Avon on April 23, William was born of John Shakespeare, a glover and leather merchant and Mary Arden, a landed local heiress. Young William was the third of eight children, in which three of them died. His father had a remarkable run of success as a merchant, alderman, and high bailiff of Stratford, but later his fortunes declined. The next documented event of his life was his marriage to Anne Hathaway on November 28, William was 18 and Anne was 26 and she was pregnant. Their first child was Susanna, who was born on May 26, They later had twins, Hamnet and Judith, that were born February 2, Hamnet later dies at the age of 11

For seven years after the birth of his twins Shakespeare disappears from all records, this period is called “The Lost Years”. One scholar writes that Shakespeare was a fan of poaching and may have fled to protect his life from Sir Thomas Lucy, whose rabbits and deer he may have killed. It is believed that Shakespeare came back to London around 1588 and began to establish himself as an actor and playwright. Early on many other writers grew envious. By 1594 he was not only acting and writing for the Lord Chamberlain’s men, but he was also a managing partner in the operation.

He had plays published and sold in octavo editions, or “penny copies” for the more literate audiences. Shakespeare’s plays were mostly shown in the Globe theater, which he had ownership of. Shakespeare wrote his will in 1611, which gave his daughter Susanna all his property. To his other daughter Judith he left 300 euros and his wife Anne his “second best bed.” Shakespeare died on his Birthday April 23, 1616 William Shakespeare is one the most known poets in English History. His works have been read every year from his death to the present. Even in his death he left a verse “ Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forebeare,To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.”

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 damasked, 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. My Mistress eyes Sonnet 130 William Shakespeare

A B A B C D C D E F E F G What is a poem structure exactly? It depends on the type of form, or structure, in poetry characterized by regularity and consistency in such elements as rhyme and/or line length

William Shakespeare’s “My Mistress eyes” is a poem about the love towards an imperfect woman. If the modern reader does not read carefully enough, he or she might quickly assume the role of the woman that Shakespeare is writing about. In today’s world, a mistress is someone who lives or has some kind of sexual relationship with a man, without being married to him. In Shakespeare’s time however, it is used to describe a woman who rules others or has control. The theme of this poem is to understand and reflect on true love. True love is loving another’s imperfections no matter how small or dramatic they are. He speaks of her eyes as “nothing like the sun”, her lips not as red as coral, and her voice not as pleasant as music. He even come become quite insulting when he says her breath reeks, her hairs are like black wires, and she treads on the ground when she walks.

The tone of this poem is one of realism, contentment, and comfort. It’s realistic because not everyone’s love interest is that of beauty and brains, like many love poems portray. He has come to realize that she is far from perfect, but that does not take away any of his love for her. It is like he has an epiphany about the truth of love. The form of this poem is that of a sonnet. William Shakespeare is famous for his use with sonnets. “My Mistress’ eyes” contains fourteen lines with ten syllables per line. In each line, there are five accents of sound. This form gives the poem a beautiful rhythm, similar to all of Shakespeare’s masterpieces.

Mostly every line in this sonnet is a comparison, whether a metaphor or simile. Shakespeare uses such vivid and detailed imagery that by the end of the poem, you can actually picture the woman he’s talking about like she’s right before your eyes. Personification is also used. He says “black wires grows on her head.” An explicit comparison between two things using “like” or “as”. An implied comparison of two unlike things. Attributing or applying human qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena. The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas

SparkNotes LLC. "Sonnet 130." Shakespeare's Sonnets. 13 Feb Book Rags Inc. Analysis of the Sonnet, "My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing like the Sun". 13 Feb