My mistress' eyes

Pag 65/66: comprehension

es 1.

•1)     Dun (line 3) à greyish - brown

•2)     Wires (line 4) à long thin pieces of metal

•3)     Grant (line 11) à to accept that something is true

•4)     Belied (line 14)  à to give a false idea of - to describe by lies

Es 2. Your files C3

Es 3. Does the poet describe the woman he loves in the conventional way?

No, he doesn't because he describes his woman in a horrible and ridiculous way.

Es 4. What is the rhyme scheme? Is it the same as in the Petrarchan sonnet?

The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, but it isn't like the Petrarchan scheme; in fact it is : ABBA ABBA CDE CDE.

Es 5. Look at the structure of the sonnet. How many smaller sections can you identify?                              The sonnet is composed of 14 lines, and it is organized in 3 quatrains and in a rhyming couplet.

Es 6. your files C2

Pag 66: interpretation

Es 1. Your files C4

Shakespeare uses the language of sense impression: he applies to sight, hearing and smell to describe his woman.

Es 2. What do you think is the effect of using sensory images?

I think that the poet had used some sensory images to create a sight effect in the reader: in this way the aim of the sonnet (to parody the woman with a ridiculous description) may have been more clear.

Es 3. Focus on the words "yet" and "I think". What do they draw attention to?

the words "yet" and "I think" used by the poet should draw the attention of the reader on his personal idea of the woman.

Es 4. What does the poet refer to with the final words "false compare"?

I think that the poet with the final words "false compare" would explain to the reader that the sonnet he had made is only a parody of his woman.

Es 5. What is the meaning of the final couplet?

With the final couplet Shakespeare explains that the love he feels for his woman, is more pretious and rare of the love for a woman through a false (wrong) comparison.

Es 6. Which interpretation of this sonnet do you most agree with?

I most agree with the interpretation which says that the poet not only parodies the love, but also underlines that love is not dictated from objective qualities, because I think it may be interesting to understand the poet's idea about his sonnet.

SHAKESPEARE AND NERUDA

Sonnet 11, Pablo Neruda

Tengo hambre de tu boca, de tu voz, de tu pelo

y por las calles voy sin nutrirme, callado,

no me sostiene el pan, el alba me desquicia,

busco el sonido líquido de tus pies en el día.

Estoy hambriento de tu risa resbalada,

de tus manos color de furioso granero,

tengo hambre de la pálida piedra de tus uñas,

quiero comer tu piel como una intacta almendra.

Quiero comer el rayo quemado en tu hermosura,

la nariz soberana del arrogante rostro,

quiero comer la sombra fugaz de tus pestañas

y hambriento vengo y voy olfateando el crepúsculo

buscándote, buscando tu corazón caliente

como un puma en la soledad de Quitatrúe.

How is desire for the loved woman presented here?

The poet describes a strong desire: in fact, Love for him is carnal and material.

From the sonnet we can understand that he needs the woman he loves, and so he can't stand staying without seeing her. In this way the reader can understand that she is everything the poet desires. Neruda communicates a lot of emotions when he talks about her: he describes her physical appearance and he frequently writes the word ‘quiero' (I love) referring to her.

The reader can also notice that he mixes the theme of love with passion to describe his woman.