Shakespearean Sonnets · English Literature

What is the function of the final couplet in Sonnet 130 after the poet has spent twelve lines listing his mistress's flaws?

  1. He breaks up with her because she cannot match poetic ideals
  2. He admits he was embellishing her appearance throughout
  3. He declares his love is genuine precisely because it needs no false praise
  4. He reveals that the twelve lines were describing a painting, not a person
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Correct answer: He declares his love is genuine precisely because it needs no false praise

The couplet functions as a 'turn' where the speaker swears that his mistress is as 'rare' as any woman misrepresented by 'false compare.' It transforms the preceding catalogue of flaws into a profound declaration of sincere, realistic love.

Difficulty: Medium Question 20 of 20

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