“By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed”
In this line, Shakespeare says that even the beauty of nature will fade if left unattended. Throughout the sonnet, it can be seen that Shakespeare has used the natural world to fuel his imagery about the woman he is writing about.
“But thy eternal summer shall not fade”
The quality of the rhyme and rhythm throughout this sonnet clearly reflects the formality of a public performance. This formality is backed up by the repetition at the beginning and the end of the sonnet.
“Thou art more lovely and more temperate”
Wordsworth opened his sonnet, “Composed upon Westminster Bridge” with quite a shocking statement. When speaking of London he says,
“Earth has not anything to show more fair”
This sonnet provides a new aspect of London town from the more traditional view similar to that represented in Oliver Twist which presented a much darker London town full of filthy factories. Wordsworth was so touched by this remarkable sight that he felt compelled to write this personal sonnet. It is very clear from the fast rhythm that Wordsworth was excited at this rare sight. Moreover, the fact that he chose to write it in the form of a sonnet is very suitable because the sight he witnessed would only last a short time before the working day commenced.
“Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty”
The enjambment in this line clearly shows the poets delight in what he saw in the early morning London.
Throughout the octave a crescendo can be heard building up Wordsworth’s excitement, until the sestet when he slows down the rhythm to give a sense of calm. Furthermore, the abundant caesuras throughout the sonnet suggest breathless excitement.
This sonnet is full of visual images such as the description of the landscape of London,
“Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie”
Wordsworth concludes his poem by saying that he had never before seen such a beautiful sight. He finishes with a very calming personification of London being the heart of England,
“And all that mighty heart is lying still!”
Seamus Heaney opens his poem with a statement of fact.
“Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.”
This opening line lets the reader know how comfortable Heaney is when he is writing. This free verse style of this poem is very appropriate because the poem is made up of Heaney’s memories, and since memories are not recalled easily, a regular pattern would be inappropriate, therefore the rhythm is quite varied. For this same reason there is no prominent rhyme scheme.
The poem tells the story of Heaney’s grandfather digging turf. This seems a very unsophisticated subject matter, but Heaney has presented it in the most sophisticated and professional manner possible; poetry. In this poem, Heaney has broken away from the intellectual background of poetry so he can recall memories of his grandfather during his childhood.
A mid-Ulster rural voice can be heard throughout the poem. This is in addition to all the other visual and aural images. An example of excellent aural imagery can be heard in the line,
“The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap”
Excellent alliteration can be seen here as well. An onomatopoeic effect can be heard on “squelch and slap,” thus giving an excellent aural image.
Poetic ideas have not changed much over the centuries. However, the form in which these ideas are conveyed have varied quite dramatically. From the Shakespearean Sonnets like “Shall I compare thee to a summer‘s day?” to Wordsworth’s Petrarchan sonnet, “Composed upon Westminster Bridge” to the free verse form of Heaney in “Digging.” These poems are all memorable in their own ways, Shakespeare for his elaborate images, Wordsworth for his dramatically different view of London and Heaney for his vivid images of his childhood memories.
