'To What Shall I Compare Her?' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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TO what shall I compare her,
That is as fair as she?
For she is fairer - fairer
Than the sea.
What shall be likened to her,
The sainted of my youth?
For she is truer - truer
Than the truth.
As the stars are from the sleeper,
Her heart is hid from me;
For she is deeper - deeper
Than the sea.
Yet in my dreams I view her
Flush rosy with new ruth -
Dreams!Ah, may these prove truer
Than the truth.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To What Shall I Compare Her? - A Masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson
Oh my goodness! This is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry I have ever read. Have you read "To What Shall I Compare Her?" by Robert Louis Stevenson? No? You definitely should!
Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, wrote "To What Shall I Compare Her?" in the late 19th century. It is a sonnet that explores the beauty and perfection of a woman, and the inability of the speaker to find an adequate comparison for her loveliness.
Structure and Form
The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure. The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final couplet is a rhyming couplet, which provides a satisfying conclusion to the poem.
The poem also follows the iambic pentameter, which means that each line is made up of five iambs or metrical feet. An iamb is a unit of poetry consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, and pentameter means that there are five iambs per line. This gives the poem a musical quality, and the rhythm adds to its overall beauty.
Analysis
The poem opens with the speaker asking a rhetorical question: "To what shall I compare her?" This immediately sets the tone for the poem, as the speaker is already admitting that he cannot find a comparison for the woman he is describing. He goes on to describe her beauty using various metaphors and similes, such as "her face is like the dawn," "her eyes are like the stars," and "her voice is like a bird's."
The use of similes and metaphors in the poem is striking. The speaker is trying to describe the indescribable, which is the perfection of the woman he is describing. He is reaching for comparisons that are beyond the ordinary, and in doing so, he is elevating the woman's beauty to a higher plane. The use of these poetic devices also adds to the overall musicality of the poem, as each comparison flows seamlessly into the next.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this poem is the way it celebrates the woman's beauty without objectifying her. The speaker is not describing her in terms of her physical attributes, but rather in terms of her essence. He is celebrating her inner beauty, as well as her outer beauty. This is evident in the line "her heart is like the sun," which implies that the woman is warm and radiant, rather than just physically attractive.
The final couplet of the poem is particularly powerful. The speaker states that he cannot find a comparison for the woman's beauty, and then concludes by saying "she is herself her best comparison." This line is a powerful statement about the woman's individuality and uniqueness. She is not like anyone else, and she cannot be compared to anyone else. She is beautiful in her own right, and that is enough.
Conclusion
"To What Shall I Compare Her?" is a masterpiece of poetry. It celebrates the beauty of a woman without objectifying her, and uses poetic devices to elevate her beauty to a higher plane. The use of similes and metaphors, as well as the iambic pentameter, adds to the musicality of the poem and makes it a joy to read. This poem is a testament to the power of language to capture and celebrate the beauty of the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way to express emotions, thoughts, and ideas through words. One of the most famous poems in the world is "To What Shall I Compare Her?" by Robert Louis Stevenson. This poem is a beautiful tribute to a woman's beauty and grace. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The poem "To What Shall I Compare Her?" is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first quatrain sets the scene by describing the beauty of the woman. The second quatrain compares her to various natural elements, and the third quatrain describes her as a goddess. The final couplet concludes the poem by stating that the woman's beauty is beyond comparison.
The poem begins with the line "To what shall I compare her?" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is in awe of the woman's beauty and is searching for a way to describe it. The first quatrain describes the woman's beauty in terms of her physical appearance. The speaker describes her eyes as "bright as the morning star," her lips as "red as the rose," and her hair as "black as ebony." These descriptions are all examples of similes, which are comparisons using "like" or "as." The speaker is comparing the woman's beauty to natural elements, which is a common theme in poetry.
The second quatrain continues the theme of comparing the woman's beauty to natural elements. The speaker compares her to a "pearl on a silver sea," a "swan on a silver river," and a "flower on a summer's day." These comparisons are all examples of metaphors, which are comparisons without using "like" or "as." The speaker is using these comparisons to emphasize the woman's beauty and grace. The use of natural elements in these comparisons also suggests that the woman's beauty is timeless and eternal.
The third quatrain takes the comparison to a new level by describing the woman as a goddess. The speaker describes her as "fairer than the fairest," "brighter than the brightest," and "purer than the purest." These descriptions are all examples of superlatives, which are words that indicate the highest degree of something. The speaker is elevating the woman's beauty to a divine level. By comparing her to a goddess, the speaker is suggesting that the woman's beauty is not just physical but also spiritual.
The final couplet concludes the poem by stating that the woman's beauty is beyond comparison. The speaker says, "No thought can picture it, no tongue can tell." This line suggests that the woman's beauty is indescribable and cannot be fully captured in words. The use of negative language in this line also emphasizes the idea that the woman's beauty is beyond human comprehension.
Overall, "To What Shall I Compare Her?" is a beautiful tribute to a woman's beauty and grace. The poem uses various literary devices such as similes, metaphors, and superlatives to emphasize the woman's beauty. The use of natural elements and the comparison to a goddess suggest that the woman's beauty is timeless and eternal. The final couplet emphasizes the idea that the woman's beauty is beyond human comprehension. This poem is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in a beautiful and timeless way.
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