Shakespeare Figurative Language

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Recommended: Shall i compare thee to a summer day analysis

The use of figurative language and imagery in the two sonnets “How do I love thee” by Elizabeth Browning, and “Shall I compare Thee to a summer’s day” by William Shakespeare, convey complex emotions pertaining to love. The way that Shakespeare describes his feelings toward his significant other, suggests that he desires for the love he shares with his possible mistress to transcend death and last eternally. Mrs. Browning’s use of figurative language is more apparent, as she describes the various ways that she loves this particular person, expressing the extent of her intense unconditional love. Shakespeare uses personification of the Sun, during a summer’s day, to determine whether a summer’s day actually captures the essence of this individual that he loves so dearly. Shakespeare’s sonnet asks a question that he answers when he writes this person into an existence that will last for an eternity, which a limited summers day cannot. Shakespeare’s use of imagery and figurative language is more effective. In Shakespeare’s sonnet, he begins with the question “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” He then expresses his uncertainty by stating how his beloved is far more lovely and temperate. “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May” expresses the negative aspects of summer. Furthermore, spring is a season of rebirth in preparation for a flourishing summer. Therefore, figuratively, summer causes new love affairs to become unstable. In addition, “summer’s lease hath all too short a date” explains one reason why he is uncertain concerning a comparison of his beloved to a summer’s day, as summer ends far too quickly and he desires for their love to never end. The word “lease” seems to infer that summer is abiding by the agreements... ... middle of paper ... ...wning’s poem “How do I love thee” is more apparent and simple. I think her use of figurative language and imagery is still effective, although this particular poem doesn’t require very much analyzing to determine the conclusion of the poem, being that her last way to love thee will be in the afterlife if “God” allows her. In conclusion, Shakespeare is more effective with using figurative language and imagery in his sonnet. This is mainly because he personifies the sun in a way that acknowledges how essential the sun is to a summer’s day. Both poems by Shakespeare and Browning are virtually about the same topic. In addition, both of these poems also address the unknown person as “thee”. Moreover, a question of uncertainty is at the beginning of each poem as well. The theme of the two poems are pertaining to eternal love, exceeding death and only becoming stronger.

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