Recap of Tuesday's in-class writing:
Compare and contrast Swift’s “Stella’s Birthday, 1719” (1180-1181) with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 (741)
Similarities
Similar perspective: Man to a woman whom the author values and loves deeply.
Both are realistic, describing physical appearance.
Both address inner vs. outer beauty.
“Both poems, while somewhat unflattering, are simultaneously complimentary by virtue of their truth.” -- Lydia
Differences
Both have an identifiable rhyme scheme, but Shakespeare’s is ababcdcdefefgg (as is typical of a sonnet) and Swift’s is couplets (aabbccdd eeffgghhgg).
Shakespeare doesn’t explicitly name the subject of his poem; Swift does.
Shakespeare uses contrast “If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun” (line 3), visual images; Swift is more symbolic.
Shakespeare only praises his mistress’s physical beauty while Swift also praises Stella’s intelligence (wit).
Shakespeare’s tone is harsher.
Passion (Shakespeare) vs. admiration (Swift)
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