Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” and John Donne’s “The Sun Rising.”
William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” and John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” are two poems that explore the theme of love, albeit in different ways. While both poems share some similarities in their portrayal of love, they also differ in significant ways. This essay will compare and contrast the portrayal of love in these two poems.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is a traditional sonnet that explores the idea of true love. The poem begins with the famous line, “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments.” The speaker is saying that true love is so powerful and unshakeable that it cannot be affected by any obstacles. He goes on to say that love is not a fleeting emotion that changes with time or circumstances. True love, according to the speaker, is constant and unchanging. The speaker uses various metaphors to describe love, such as comparing it to a star that is fixed in the sky and guiding the ships to their destination.
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In contrast, Donne’s “The Sun Rising” is a poem that explores the idea of love as a kind of defiance against the world. The speaker of the poem addresses the sun, telling it to stay away because his lover is more important than anything else in the world. The speaker argues that the sun’s rays are not as powerful as the love that he shares with his lover. In this way, the poem is a kind of argument against the forces of the world that would seek to come between two people in love.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-One of the similarities between the two poems is the idea that love is powerful and unshakeable. In “Sonnet 116,” Shakespeare argues that love is not something that can be diminished or affected by outside forces. The same is true in “The Sun Rising,” where the speaker argues that love is more powerful than the sun’s rays. In both poems, love is portrayed as something that is all-consuming and able to transcend the normal boundaries of life.
Another similarity between the two poems is the use of metaphor. In “Sonnet 116,” Shakespeare uses metaphors such as comparing love to a star that is fixed in the sky. In “The Sun Rising,” Donne uses metaphors such as comparing his lover’s eyes to the East Indies. Both poets use these metaphors to create a sense of grandeur and majesty around the concept of love.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-However, the two poems also differ in some significant ways. One of the differences is the tone of the poems. “Sonnet 116” has a serious and almost reverential tone. The speaker of the poem is trying to create a sense of awe and respect around the idea of true love. In contrast, “The Sun Rising” has a more playful and teasing tone. The speaker of the poem is almost mocking the sun for thinking that it has any power over him and his lover.
Another difference between the two poems is the focus of the poems. In “Sonnet 116,” the focus is on the concept of true love itself. The poem is exploring what true love is and what it is not. In contrast, “The Sun Rising” is more focused on the relationship between the speaker and his lover. The poem is exploring the idea that the two lovers are the most important thing in the world and that nothing else matters.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-Finally, the two poems differ in their portrayal of love itself. In “Sonnet 116,” love is portrayed as a kind of ideal. The speaker is arguing that true love is something that is constant and unchanging, and that it is the highest form of human emotion. In contrast, “The Sun Rising” portrays love as something that is physical and passionate. The speaker is arguing that his love for his lover is so strong that it is able to overcome the natural forces of the world.
Sonnet 116 “Summary”
William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116” is one of the most famous and widely-read sonnets in the English language. It is a traditional sonnet, consisting of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. The poem explores the theme of true love, arguing that it is constant and unchanging, and that it is not affected by time or circumstances.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-The poem begins with the famous line, “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments.” The speaker is saying that true love is so powerful and unshakeable that it cannot be affected by any obstacles. The idea of the “marriage of true minds” is a metaphor for the deep and intimate connection that two people can share through their love.
The second quatrain of the sonnet expands on this idea, arguing that love is not a fleeting emotion that changes with time or circumstances. The speaker says that love is not something that fades or alters over time. Rather, it is something that is constant and unchanging. The speaker compares love to a star that is fixed in the sky and guiding the ships to their destination. This metaphor suggests that love is a guiding force that can help us navigate through the complexities of life.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-In the third quatrain, the speaker acknowledges that love is not always easy, but argues that true love is able to withstand the challenges that come with it. The speaker says that love is not something that can be diminished by time or circumstances. Even though people may change and circumstances may shift, true love remains constant and unchanging.
The final couplet of the sonnet is perhaps the most famous part of the poem. The speaker argues that if he is wrong about his ideas of true love, then he has never written anything and no man has ever loved. This is a bold statement, suggesting that the idea of true love is so powerful and universal that it is impossible to imagine a world without it.
Overall, “Sonnet 116” is a powerful exploration of the idea of true love. Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and his command of language combine to create a sense of grandeur and majesty around the concept of love. The poem argues that true love is a constant force that is able to transcend time, circumstances, and even death itself. It is a timeless tribute to the power and beauty of love, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
The Sun Rising “Summary”
John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” is a metaphysical poem that explores the theme of love and its ability to transcend the physical world. The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, in which the speaker addresses the sun and challenges its right to interrupt his love with his partner.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-The poem begins with the speaker addressing the sun as if it were a person. He challenges the sun’s power and authority, saying that it has no right to interfere in his affairs. The speaker then addresses his lover, saying that their love is more important than anything else in the world. He says that their love is so powerful that it can make the sun rise and set at their command.
In the second part, the speaker mocks the sun’s power and authority, saying that it is just a “busy old fool” who goes about its daily routine without any real purpose. He says that the sun should not be so proud of its power, because it is only a minor player in the grand scheme of things.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-The third part is a continuation of the speaker’s challenge to the sun. He says that the sun’s light is not needed in their world of love, and that it should stay away and not disturb them. He says that their love is a self-contained world that needs no outside interference.
In the fourth part, the speaker continues to extol the virtues of love, saying that it is stronger than any physical force in the world. He says that their love is so strong that it can make time itself stand still. He also says that their love is not limited by physical boundaries or constraints, and that they are free to love each other without any interference.
The fifth part is a conclusion to the speaker’s challenge to the sun. He says that the sun is just a “wanton” thing that goes about its business without any real purpose or meaning. He says that his love with his partner is the only true source of meaning in the world.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of love William :-Overall, “The Sun Rising” is a powerful exploration of the theme of love and its ability to transcend the physical world. Donne uses the speaker’s challenge to the sun as a metaphor for the power of love, and he argues that love is a force that is more powerful than any physical force in the world. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of love, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
FAQ.
Q: What is the theme of Sonnet 116?
A: The theme of Sonnet 116 is true love. Shakespeare argues that true love is constant and unchanging, and that it is not affected by time or circumstances.
Q: What is the significance of the metaphor of the star in the second quatrain?
A: The metaphor of the star suggests that love is a guiding force that can help us navigate through the complexities of life. It emphasizes the idea that love is constant and unchanging, like a star fixed in the sky.
Q: What is the theme of “The Sun Rising”?
A: The theme of “The Sun Rising” is the power of love to transcend the physical world. The speaker challenges the authority of the sun, arguing that their love is more important and powerful than anything else in the world.
Q: What is the structure of “The Sun Rising”?
A: “The Sun Rising” is a poem written in the form of a dramatic monologue. It consists of three parts, each with a different argument or challenge to the sun’s authority.
