英国文学诗歌赏析(已整理).doc

PAGE 2 诗歌鉴赏 Sonnet 18 (Book1 P118) Notes temperate (2): i.e., evenly-tempered; not overcome by passion. the eye of heaven (5): i.e., the sun. every fair from fair sometime declines (7): i.e., the beauty (fair) of everything beautiful (fair) will fade (declines). natures changing course (8): i.e., the natural changes age brings. that fair thou owst (10): i.e., that beauty you possess. in eternal lines...grow’st (12): The poet is using a grafting metaphor in this line. Grafting is a technique used to join parts from two plants with cords so that they grow as one. Thus the beloved becomes immortal, grafted to time with the poets cords (his eternal lines). For commentary on whether this sonnet is really one long exercise in self-glorification, please see below. Figure of Speech Rhetorical questioning: The 1st line, to used to create a tone of respect, and to engage the audience Metaphor: Shakespeare opens the poem with a metaphor, comparing the woman he loves to all of the best characteristics of a summers day. When we think about summer, many attributes come to mind, such as warmth, sunshine, fun, and relaxation. It is the opposite of winter and its freezing temperatures, consistent bad weather and bleak skies. Summer represents optimism. Shakespeare goes on to point out that summer has its down side, as well. For instance, sometimes the sun is far too hot. Summer heat can be unbearable. Also, summer days can be fickle, in that they are cloudy when we think they should be warm. Finally, summer days are just too transient. His love may have been confused at this point. Is it beneficial to be compared to a summers day? Shakespeare sets her mind at rest, however, in explaining that she is far more beautiful and even tempered than the most desirable summer weather. Personification: It is worth mentioning Shakespeares use of personification here. He gives the sun an eye, a human attribute, and in the next line, a complexion. Parallelism（排比）: The final couplet, used