Poetry essays
“Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare
“The morning sun is shining” by Olive Schreiner
"At a Funeral" by Dennis Brutus
“Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas.
“The Shipwreck” by Emily Dickinson
For a poetry essay, tarting the introduction of the essay, include the name of the poem and
author. The subject (main body) of the poem identifies the purpose. To analyse the poem
speak of imagery, symbolism and figures of speech.
“Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 is a love poem that, on the surface, appears to be a
tribute to the speaker's mistress, whom he describes in unfavourable terms. However,
a closer examination of the poem reveals that the speaker has a different kind of love
for his mistress – a love that is more real and heartfelt than the idealized love
celebrated in much of Renaissance poetry.
Sonnet 130 begins by defying the conventions of Petrarchan love poetry, which
idealizes the beloved by comparing her to divine and otherworldly beings. The speaker
of Sonnet 130 admits that his mistress is not perfect and does not possess the physical
beauty of a goddess or an angel: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral
is far more red than her lips' red." The speaker describes his mistress's physical
flaws in detail, but he ends each line with a positive statement that emphasizes his love
for her. For example, he says that his mistress's hair is like "black wires" instead of
golden threads, but he also notes that he loves to see it shake and move. He admits
that his mistress's breath is not sweet like perfume, but he still enjoys hearing her
speak, for "music hath a far more pleasing sound."
As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that his love for his mistress is not based
on her physical attributes. In fact, he claims that his love is based on something deeper
and more real than the conventional ideals of beauty and perfection: "And yet, by
heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare." In this final
couplet, the speaker asserts that his love for his mistress is unique and true precisely
because it is not based on superficial qualities.
, The speaker's love is genuine precisely because he loves his mistress for who she is,
flaws and all. Sonnet 130 is a refreshing departure from the idealized and overly
romanticized love poetry that was popular in the Renaissance. The speaker's honesty
about his mistress's less-than-perfect appearance is a bold assertion of his own
individuality and his rejection of societal norms. In his effort to convey the depth and
uniqueness of his love, the speaker offers a more realistic and balanced view of love
that allows for the imperfection and humanity of those we love. In conclusion, Sonnet
130 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful work of poetry that defies the conventions of
traditional love poetry. Through his description, Shakespeare offers a more honest and
realistic view of love, one that is based on true feelings and not just superficial
appearances. By rejecting the idealized conventions of Petrarchan love poetry,
Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 stands as a testament to the beauty and power of true love.
“ The morning sun is shining” by Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner's poem "The Morning Sun is Shining" is a beautiful piece of writing that
captures the beauty and wonder of nature. The poem celebrates the serenity and
tranquillity of a morning sunrise, and the sense of hope and renewal that it brings.
Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Schreiner invites the reader
to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world and to experience the
wonder of a new day dawning.
The poem begins with the lines, "The morning sun is shining, / And the lark is
sweetly singing." These opening lines immediately set a joyful and optimistic tone, as
the speaker revels in the beauty of the morning sun and the sweet song of the lark.
The imagery of the sun shining and the lark singing creates a sense of warmth and
vitality, and sets the scene for the rest of the poem.
As the poem progresses, Schreiner continues to weave powerful images of nature,
using vivid language to transport the reader to the scene of the morning sunrise. She
writes, "The fl owers are all waking, / And the dew is on the roses; / And the little
birds are making / All the air as sweet as muses." These lines create a vivid and
sensory-rich image of a world coming to life, as the flowers open their petals, the dew
glistens on the roses, and the birds fill the air with their sweet songs. The imagery here
is both striking and evocative, and it serves to draw the reader into the scene, allowing
them to fully experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Throughout the poem, there is a sense of joy and wonder at the beauty of nature, and
an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. Schreiner's use of language is both
lyrical and emotive, and she effectively conveys the sense of awe and delight that the
“Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare
“The morning sun is shining” by Olive Schreiner
"At a Funeral" by Dennis Brutus
“Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas.
“The Shipwreck” by Emily Dickinson
For a poetry essay, tarting the introduction of the essay, include the name of the poem and
author. The subject (main body) of the poem identifies the purpose. To analyse the poem
speak of imagery, symbolism and figures of speech.
“Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 is a love poem that, on the surface, appears to be a
tribute to the speaker's mistress, whom he describes in unfavourable terms. However,
a closer examination of the poem reveals that the speaker has a different kind of love
for his mistress – a love that is more real and heartfelt than the idealized love
celebrated in much of Renaissance poetry.
Sonnet 130 begins by defying the conventions of Petrarchan love poetry, which
idealizes the beloved by comparing her to divine and otherworldly beings. The speaker
of Sonnet 130 admits that his mistress is not perfect and does not possess the physical
beauty of a goddess or an angel: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral
is far more red than her lips' red." The speaker describes his mistress's physical
flaws in detail, but he ends each line with a positive statement that emphasizes his love
for her. For example, he says that his mistress's hair is like "black wires" instead of
golden threads, but he also notes that he loves to see it shake and move. He admits
that his mistress's breath is not sweet like perfume, but he still enjoys hearing her
speak, for "music hath a far more pleasing sound."
As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that his love for his mistress is not based
on her physical attributes. In fact, he claims that his love is based on something deeper
and more real than the conventional ideals of beauty and perfection: "And yet, by
heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare." In this final
couplet, the speaker asserts that his love for his mistress is unique and true precisely
because it is not based on superficial qualities.
, The speaker's love is genuine precisely because he loves his mistress for who she is,
flaws and all. Sonnet 130 is a refreshing departure from the idealized and overly
romanticized love poetry that was popular in the Renaissance. The speaker's honesty
about his mistress's less-than-perfect appearance is a bold assertion of his own
individuality and his rejection of societal norms. In his effort to convey the depth and
uniqueness of his love, the speaker offers a more realistic and balanced view of love
that allows for the imperfection and humanity of those we love. In conclusion, Sonnet
130 by William Shakespeare is a beautiful work of poetry that defies the conventions of
traditional love poetry. Through his description, Shakespeare offers a more honest and
realistic view of love, one that is based on true feelings and not just superficial
appearances. By rejecting the idealized conventions of Petrarchan love poetry,
Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 stands as a testament to the beauty and power of true love.
“ The morning sun is shining” by Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner's poem "The Morning Sun is Shining" is a beautiful piece of writing that
captures the beauty and wonder of nature. The poem celebrates the serenity and
tranquillity of a morning sunrise, and the sense of hope and renewal that it brings.
Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Schreiner invites the reader
to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world and to experience the
wonder of a new day dawning.
The poem begins with the lines, "The morning sun is shining, / And the lark is
sweetly singing." These opening lines immediately set a joyful and optimistic tone, as
the speaker revels in the beauty of the morning sun and the sweet song of the lark.
The imagery of the sun shining and the lark singing creates a sense of warmth and
vitality, and sets the scene for the rest of the poem.
As the poem progresses, Schreiner continues to weave powerful images of nature,
using vivid language to transport the reader to the scene of the morning sunrise. She
writes, "The fl owers are all waking, / And the dew is on the roses; / And the little
birds are making / All the air as sweet as muses." These lines create a vivid and
sensory-rich image of a world coming to life, as the flowers open their petals, the dew
glistens on the roses, and the birds fill the air with their sweet songs. The imagery here
is both striking and evocative, and it serves to draw the reader into the scene, allowing
them to fully experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Throughout the poem, there is a sense of joy and wonder at the beauty of nature, and
an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. Schreiner's use of language is both
lyrical and emotive, and she effectively conveys the sense of awe and delight that the
