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Brittle Beauty Analysis
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Brittle Beauty Analysis
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Maryam Salah El Dien Mohamed Adel16th Century Lit – Poetry Section – Midterm Exam
1st Year
1212029
Brittle Beauty.
Introducing the sonnet form into English literature had both Wyatt and Howard’s names
often tied together, making them “Fathers of the English Sonnet”. In fact, Howard contributed to
the evolution of English poetry by giving the sonnet its rhyme and dividing it into quatrains. In
his sonnet “Brittle Beauty”, Howard addresses the theme of mortal external genderless beauty,
making his words applicable to whoever is to read them. Even though beauty is an abstract
concept rather than a materialistic one, Howard takes the reader through the journey of beauty
picturing and visualizing it by using similes and metaphors.
In the beginning, the poet hints that beauty is weakened by nature, if not as brittle as
nature itself. Both nature and beauty constantly changing. A metaphor is used to compare beauty
to a “gift”. However, that positive notion does not last long as it turns out to be “small”. The tone
of the sonnet is immediately set by comparing beauty to a “frail” flower that blossoms for a
fleeting period just to inevitably wither by the end of its season. He explains that beauty is
enjoyable while it lasts, also comparing it to a once “ready to ripe” fruit that eventually rots when
left out in the frost. Howard believes beauty to be “false and untrue”: a fragile illusion that
betrays those obsessed with obtaining it.
Words, expressions, similes, paradoxes and personifications play a huge role in
conveying Howard’s message throughout the sonnet. He highlights his message that beauty must
come to an end by using the paradox “today” and “tomorrow”, as well as using the word
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