Question

The lines “My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than her lips' red; / If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; / If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head” employ a humor device. Identify the device used and discuss its effect on the meaning and tone of the poem.

Answer 1

i need help with the humor device

Answer 2

I don't quite understand what you need help with.

Answer 3

http://davehood59.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/writing-humour/

These humour devices?

Answer 4

I would say the device used is satire.

Answer 5

If the devices used are those that @Boblankin posted.

Answer 6

smilie counts in here as well.

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; "

Answer 7

No, not really. It would have been different if the writer said "are like the sun", but they didn't.

Answer 8

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~cooneys/tchg/lit/adv/metaphor.html

Answer 9

I know, I didn't see it. Metaphor is used, but I wouldn't say simile.

Answer 10

ah, so I should say metaphor for this then?

Answer 11

even though this source says smilie?

Answer 12

Might as well. That or satire would work. Well, the page said metaphor OR simile. So, either one you could do.

Answer 13

It's just what you think was the best device that fit.

Answer 14

cool.

Answer 15

I didn't know that this was for you though. Are you doing the same thing? :)

Answer 16

nah, I just wanted to help and turns out I learned something instead. :P

Answer 17

Well, you're welcome. ;)

Answer 18

i can understand the debate first i had a metal one with myself then i saw that i wasnt the only one confused.
obviously comparisons are being made but i would more go with simile. for the first line even though the poet used the word "nothing" in the sentence i think its just to throw you off. the words that were chosen to describe express distastefulness but that is so ironic i dont see why you would be unattrated to someone you are having an affair with so then again he could just be using sarcasm to justify his actions......
based on the extract it souds like someone having internal conflict trying to convince himself or someone else that he does not love his mistress....
these are just merely opinions of my own. which may or may not be right. but as they say with literature there is no rea right or wrong answer just as long as you can support it your idea your fine..

Answer 19

The humour device used here is that although this poem is meant to be a love poem, the lines you used aren't describing the lady's beauty at all. In fact, they're rather insulting of her looks-- according to the writer, the lady's eyes are 'nothing like the sun', meaning dull and maybe lifeless, her skin is not white as snow, but darker, and her hair is coarse. Of course, love poems are meant to glorify the subject, and so the fact that it's really not, is the humour here. But the reason for the bad description of the lady is that even though she may not be the most beautiful woman in the world, the writer still loves her as she is.

Answer 20

@ingenue that was really helpful thanks.

Answer 21

So, I guess it would be irony then.