Compare and Contrast Essay: Sonnet 105 vs. Like as the Huntsman

Poetry typically is an artform in a class of its own because its meaning is not often captured at first sight, However once understood one can become encapsulated by it, it has different meanings for all people and it brings one’s emotions to the forefront. It is therefore safe to conclude that two poems of the same genre and similar themes can differ immensely. On the other hand, two seemingly different poems can share some striking similarities.

In the case of sonnet one hundred and five by William Shakespeare a central theme of love and devotion is dominant. A comprehensible element of Christianity is plainly evident in this poem. The poet’s emphasis on idolatry is intended to deny idolatry, however, what he achieves is the opposite. “Three themes in one ,which wonderous scope affords” The poet is making comparison to the trinity. “Fair, kind and true “ Here the poet makes effective use of  Anaphora in an attempt to contrast it with the trinity sounding very much like blasphemy. While the poet makes a fervent appeal not to view his love for the object of his affection as idolatry he is clearly engaging in idolatry in this poem. The poet seems to be insisting that the subject of his devotion has these three attributes which become one using repetition. He distinctly implies that the fair youth is Godlike. Somehow the poet differentiates between worshiping a person and an image. “Nor my beloved as an idol to show”. According to Don Paterson the word idolatry in this poem is used to accuse Catholicism in the Elizabethan era.

In the poem Like as the Huntsman a central theme of love is once again evident. The poem is an extended simile as the actual simile is brought across over a few lines in the poem.  “When I all weary had the chase forsook ,The gentle deer return’d the self-same way.” The poet suggests that the pursuit of love does not have to be aggressive but  the lover being pursued must want to be with the lover pursuing her. “There she beholding me with a milder look.” The woman returned to the brook to drink and he saw a gentler look. It was the same woman but he no longer saw her as prey. When the poet speaks about goodwill I believe he is suggesting that it was not as much about the hunt or the woman but as if the scales disappeared from his eyes and he saw everything differently. It was no longer about chasing something and admiring the phenotypic appearance but appreciating admirable and maybe even Godlike qualities.

Both poems share central themes like love and devotion with traces of Christianity and both poems seem to be inspired by a love interest. In both poems the poet displays a level of devotion toward a love interest. While in sonnet one hundred and five by William Shakespeare there seems to be traces of sarcasm and contrary to the title there is a clear display of idolatry when one considers how he credits the object of his affections with Godlike attributes. He subtly refers to the trinity  insinuating that the object of his affection processes the same qualities at the same time and separately. In Like as a huntsman the poet displays an evident chase to obtain the affection of the object of his affection he comes to the realization that beauty fades and the inner qualities one processes are of far more importance. While there are fine traces of Christianity in this poem, there is no hurling of accusations at any form of Christianity, on the contrary he is saying there is no need for the chase but goodness and patience will prevail.

Poetry typically is an artform in a class of its own because its meaning is not often captured at first sight, However once understood one can become encapsulated by it, it has different meanings for all people and it brings one’s emotions to the forefront. It is therefore safe to conclude that two poems of the same genre and similar themes can differ immensely. On the other hand, two seemingly different poems can share some striking similarities.

In the case of sonnet one hundred and five by William Shakespeare a central theme of love and devotion is dominant. A comprehensible element of Christianity is plainly evident in this poem. The poet’s emphasis on idolatry is intended to deny idolatry, however, what he achieves is the opposite. “Three themes in one ,which wonderous scope affords” The poet is making comparison to the trinity. “Fair, kind and true “ Here the poet makes effective use of  Anaphora in an attempt to contrast it with the trinity sounding very much like blasphemy. While the poet makes a fervent appeal not to view his love for the object of his affection as idolatry he is clearly engaging in idolatry in this poem. The poet seems to be insisting that the subject of his devotion has these three attributes which become one using repetition. He distinctly implies that the fair youth is Godlike. Somehow the poet differentiates between worshiping a person and an image. “Nor my beloved as an idol to show”. According to Don Paterson the word idolatry in this poem is used to accuse Catholicism in the Elizabethan era.

In the poem Like as the Huntsman a central theme of love is once again evident. The poem is an extended simile as the actual simile is brought across over a few lines in the poem.  “When I all weary had the chase forsook ,The gentle deer return’d the self-same way.” The poet suggests that the pursuit of love does not have to be aggressive but  the lover being pursued must want to be with the lover pursuing her. “There she beholding me with a milder look.” The woman returned to the brook to drink and he saw a gentler look. It was the same woman but he no longer saw her as prey. When the poet speaks about goodwill I believe he is suggesting that it was not as much about the hunt or the woman but as if the scales disappeared from his eyes and he saw everything differently. It was no longer about chasing something and admiring the phenotypic appearance but appreciating admirable and maybe even Godlike qualities.

Both poems share central themes like love and devotion with traces of Christianity and both poems seem to be inspired by a love interest. In both poems the poet displays a level of devotion toward a love interest. While in sonnet one hundred and five by William Shakespeare there seems to be traces of sarcasm and contrary to the title there is a clear display of idolatry when one considers how he credits the object of his affections with Godlike attributes. He subtly refers to the trinity  insinuating that the object of his affection processes the same qualities at the same time and separately. In Like as a huntsman the poet displays an evident chase to obtain the affection of the object of his affection he comes to the realization that beauty fades and the inner qualities one processes are of far more importance. While there are fine traces of Christianity in this poem, there is no hurling of accusations at any form of Christianity, on the contrary he is saying there is no need for the chase but goodness and patience will prevail.