You do understand hyperbole to be great exaggeration I
assume. That is what we need to find, instances where a person argues something that
really seems to be not true, or at least beyond the scope of
reality.
The greatest instance of hyperbole that I see in
Sonnet 29 occurs in these lines:
Haply I think on thee, and then my
state,
Like to the lark at break of day
arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's
gate
Poetry is difficult, so
let's talk translation first: He's thinking about his girl after he has been depressed
about some features of his own existence. His "state" he refers to is sadness and
thoughts of her raise him so high out of depression that he sings to God his thanks. My
guess is he's just sweet talking the girl. I don't think he really rose as high has
heaven and sung to God. Just a guess. This would be an
exaggeration.
Furthermore, in the last lines, he utters
that because of her, and his great fortune to have her, he would never change his
station in life:
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth
brings
That then I scorn to change my state with
kings.
What man says he's
happy to be poor and depressed? Shakespeare in love, that's who. That is a serious
exaggeration. If he had the chance to do better with employment he would do
it.
No comments:
Post a Comment