The final two lines of Shakespeare's sonnets can be summarized with these three points:
- These lines form a couplet: two rhyming lines that follow one another.
- They generally rhyme with each other, although exceptions can occur.
- They alter the rhythm of the sonnet: a Shakespearean sonnet consists of 14 lines, with the initial 12 divided into three quatrains of four lines each, where the theme and issue are introduced. The rhyme pattern here is abab cdcd efef, which is concluded in the final two lines that rhyme as gg.
For instance:
When I / do COUNT / the CLOCK / that TELLS / the TIME (Sonnet 12)
When IN / dis GRACE / with FOR / tune AND / men's EYES
I ALL / a LONE / be WEEP / my OUT/ cast STATE (Sonnet 29)
Shall I / com PARE/ thee TO / a SUM / mer's DAY?
Thou ART / more LOVE / ly AND / more TEM / per ATE (Sonnet 18)
The statement about the girl spending three years at the mall is a clear case of exaggeration, highlighting how long she supposedly lingered there.
Muriel Rukeyser (1913-1980) was an American poet and activist known for addressing social justice, equality, and feminism in her work. Her poem, beginning with "I lived in the first century of world wars," utilizes careful word choice to reinforce her anti-war message:
"Slowly I would get to pen and paper,
Make my poems for others unseen and unborn.
In the day I would be reminded of those men and women,
Brave, setting up signals across vast distances,
Considering a nameless way of living, of almost unimagined values."
Through these lines, she expresses hope that her poetry would outlast her life, serving as guidance for future generations who might strive for peace and justice. She writes:
"We would try by any means
To reach the limits of ourselves, to reach beyond ourselves,
To let go the means, to wake."
This suggests passing responsibility to those who come after her, hoping they will become dedicated peacemakers.
The author employs verbal irony to highlight the stark difference between human dignity and the reality of individuals being treated like cattle, or property. By stating that "men have mastered the art of sinning expertly and genteelly, so as not to shock the eyes and sense of respectable society", the irony lies in the fact that if a sin is refined and presented in a manner deemed acceptable by society, it loses its immoral character. Essentially, if one is in the business of selling humans, they must ensure these individuals are appearing clean and presentable, or risk judgment from others. When referring to "human property", the author uses phrases such as "well-fed, well-kept, attended to, and prepared for sale sleek, strong, and shining" - terms typically associated with livestock. This choice intentionally evokes the comparison, allowing readers to grasp the treatment of enslaved individuals. Potential buyers are "courteously invited to inspect, and will discover an abundance of husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and young children" - the setup is meticulously arranged for business to prosper, catering to the satisfaction of both the seller and the buyer. The phrase "an abundance" further underscores the ironic parallel drawn between people and cattle as merchandise.
