How Does Shakespeare Use Figurative Language In Sonnet 83

“Sonnet 83” by William Shakespeare conveys the indescribable beauty of a person using punctuation, imagery, and figurative language. The word “painting” as used in the first line of the poem is a type of poetic imagery that means praise or poetic flattery. This accompanied with “painting set” creates a much more elegant image than simply writing the word praising. Imagery and figurative language is more heavy and emphasized in the last two lines of the quatrains. The last line of stanza one for example, uses words such as “barren tender” and “poet’s debt”, which are excellent uses of word choice that heavies the tone of the poem, while also establishing a serious and polite tone. The last two lines of stanza two also contains a well written imagery to describe how “the modern quill”, or presumably pen, is not worthy enough to capture the beauty of the person since her worth “doth grow”. This connects back to the
He uses many commas in the middle of lines to show his reluctance, as shown in line 3: “I found, or thought I found,”. This usage of commas brings pause to the poem and sets up the tone to become reflecting and sincere. Enjambment occurs twice in the passage, and each time contributes a longer burst of lines in contrast to the reluctance to it’s previous short, fragment like segments. One example of enjambment is at line 6-7, where it happens at “well might show how far a modern quill doth come too short”, contrasting with short and fragment like segments such as “That you yourself, being extant,” just previous. The effect of this is to imply a sense of confusion Shakespeare might have had about why this beautiful person required praise as he makes out his words. In conclusion, William Shakespeare uses figurative language, imagery, as well as punctuation accompanied with enjambment to communicate the idea that poetry is unworthy to illustrate this one person's