sonnet 54 annotation, sonnet 54 analysis, and original sonnet

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Sonnet 54 (a)O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, (b)By that sweet ornament which truth doth give! (a)The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem (b)For that sweet odour which doth in it live. (c)The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye (d)As the perfumed tincture of the roses, (c)Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly (d)When summer's breath their masked buds discloses: (e)But, for their virtue only is their show, (f)They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade, (e)Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; (f)Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made: (g) And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth, (g)When that shall fade, my verse distills your Elegant conceit to a rose to create an image of beauty and youth. Beauty seems even sweeter because of how truthful the ornament is. Calming diction in the first quatrain provides a soothing atmosphere for readers compared to the dramatic diction in the second quatrain. This concrete simile represents beauty through the naked eye may look festered, but is equivalent to the inner beauty of the bloom. This tragic personificati on in the last lines of the second quatrain creates an image that represents outer beauty hanging off the nasty thorns of a horrible attitude. Concluding the poem with a couplet, the poet stresses how beauty fades with time, but the truth doesn’t. By stating this claim he reminds the reader that beauty is within truth and kindness.

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Sonnet 54

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Page 1: Sonnet 54 Annotation, Sonnet 54 Analysis, and Original Sonnet

Sonnet 54

(a)O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, 

(b)By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!

(a)The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 

(b)For that sweet odour which doth in it live. 

(c)The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye 

(d)As the perfumed tincture of the roses, 

(c)Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly 

(d)When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:

(e)But, for their virtue only is their show, 

(f)They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade, 

(e)Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; 

(f)Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:

  (g) And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,

   (g)When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth.

Elegant conceit to a rose to create an image of

beauty and youth.

Beauty seems even sweeter because of how truthful the ornament is.

Calming diction in the first quatrain provides a soothing atmosphere for readers compared to the

dramatic diction in the second quatrain.

This concrete simile represents beauty

through the naked eye may look festered, but is equivalent to the inner beauty of the bloom.

This tragic personification in the last lines of the second quatrain creates an image that represents outer beauty hanging off the nasty thorns of a horrible attitude.

Concluding the poem with a couplet, the poet stresses how beauty fades with time, but the truth doesn’t. By stating this claim he reminds the reader that beauty is within truth and kindness.

Page 2: Sonnet 54 Annotation, Sonnet 54 Analysis, and Original Sonnet

In Sonnet 54, a beauty so deep and pure could only be discovered through

oneself: honesty and truth is the only way one could achieve beauty that never dies out.

William Shakespeare’s use of over exaggerated imagery and understanding of beauty in

comparison to a rose reveals the compassion the poet has toward inner beauty. The

powerful context in the lines- “youth,” “beauteous,” “vade,” “death,” “truth,” and the

simile “the canker blooms have full as deep a dye as the perfumed tincture of the

roses”- resembles such passion in beauty and those few words linger in our brains.

These few forceful words resemble that the prettiest roses could smell the worst and

the ugliest smell the best, referring to mortal beauty doesn’t compare to one’s personal

emotional beauty. The poet emphasis’ the idea of beauty fading by introducing a

thought of death, as one grows older they also get less attractive to the eye.

Unfortunately, Shakespeare and his mistress are in times hands, as time goes by their

beauty fades. By as time flies by the poet, Shakespeare, reveals the truth within beauty

which is that it comes from the inside. Unlike the moral of the poem the beauty in

Shakespeare’s words never fade, the readers are left with the idea of beauty making the

words linger in our minds so that when we might die out our beauty won’t.

Shakespeare’s words are left at the tips of tongues and remain in our hearts and minds.

The poets words echo to all humanity making people thrive in order to achieve long

lasting beauty.

Page 3: Sonnet 54 Annotation, Sonnet 54 Analysis, and Original Sonnet

Petals of Beauty

How much beauty does one unmask and reveal?

Only truth lies in the cold blossoms of

roses. Only lovely sweet scents could heal

sores that sit on the petals like a dove.

The unmasking of a rose with colors

Deep as blood can only show the lovely,

beauteous truth by which is surely bestowed,

Petals of beauty, ruined by ugly

And monstrous scents that fill roses blooms.

As the roses sink slowly, weakening;

Ones with no beauty remain smelling as

Sweet as those with no beauty for seeking.

Beauty is what life consists of, it seems,

But as one grows none will be left to redeem.

Page 4: Sonnet 54 Annotation, Sonnet 54 Analysis, and Original Sonnet