“Sonnet” by Billy Collins and “My Mistress’ Eyes” by William Shakespeare differ greatly in construction and diction but both share satirical tones. Collins’ poem feels more modern through his use of common words and ironic phrases but Shakespeare’s poem, although quite humorous, reads like one would expect a Shakespeare sonnet to. Both poems share a similar theme of irony, though their subject matter is drastically different. Shakespeare’s sonnet is ironic when compared to “Sonnet” as it mocks the lover of its speaker, something that “Sonnet” chastises famous poets on. In “Sonnet”, Billy Collins writes without meter or form, making it incredibly difficult to classify his sonnet into any one subtype. It is easily argued that this was his point, as he set out to write a satire of famous sonnets. There are a few lines that rhyme, typically these are right after each other to help the flow of the sonnet stay consistent. The varied line length and rhyme patterns draws attention to the poem and its lack of structure, leading the poem to feel like a conversation. His use of modern language contrasts greatly with the sonnets and poets he is mocking, adding …show more content…
Several metaphors are employed in this sonnet, one extended metaphor in particular compares her to roses. By using a metaphor for such a length period of time, roughly four lines, we are able to paint a more accurate picture of this woman. The purpose of these metaphors is to clearly define how the speaker feels about his love and also how he views her. At first glance, it is easy to miss the irony in “My Mistress’ Eyes” but Shakespeare compares this woman to several beautiful things only to say she is not like them. This makes her appear human and goes against the grain of sonnets that primarily focus on the beauty and grace of their