Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Perfect Woman" is a sonnet written by William Wordsworth, one of the major figures of the Romantic movement in English literature. The sonnet was first published in 1815 as part of Wordsworth's collection of poems titled "Yarrow Revisited, and Other Poems." The poem explores the ideal of a perfect woman and how it can be found in the natural world.

Content:

In the poem, Wordsworth expresses his belief that the perfect woman can be found in nature. He describes her as a woman who possesses the virtues of purity, beauty, and simplicity. Wordsworth believes that the perfect woman is not someone who is adorned with external qualities, but rather someone who embodies the virtues of nature. He suggests that the perfect woman is someone who is in harmony with the natural world and who finds beauty in simplicity.

Form:

The poem is a sonnet, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of abbaabbacdcdcd. It is written in iambic pentameter, with each line having 10 syllables and a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.

Summary:

"Perfect Woman" is a well-crafted poem that demonstrates Wordsworth's belief in the power and beauty of nature. Through his use of imagery and language, Wordsworth conveys the idea that the perfect woman is not a superficial or materialistic construct, but rather an ideal that can be found in the natural world. The sonnet is a testament to Wordsworth's Romantic sensibility and his belief in the transformative power of nature.

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