WAIT..WHAT?!?! On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. “As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent,” he wrote James Madison, “it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”

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the united states constitution defines the structure of the national government and dictates the scope and limitation of its powers. the constitution is known as “the supreme law of the land” and all other laws are measured against it. the application of the articles and amendments of the constitution comprise constitutional law.

in addition to the united states constitution, each state has its own constitution and therefore, its own body of constitutional law as well. state constitutions resemble the federal constitution in that they outline the state government’s structure of legislative, executive and judicial branches as well as contain a bill of rights.

but there are various ways state constitutions differ from the federal constitution. often, state constitutions are much longer and more detailed than the federal constitution. state constitutions focus more on limiting rather than granting power since its general authority has already been established. as a result, the constitution of alabama is six hundred pages long whereas the federal constitution can be easily read in one sitting front to back.

the details in state constitutions are not particularly “constitutional” in nature. they often address topics unique to the state. the federal constitution can only be amended through a lengthy process designed to limit changes to this fundamental document. as a result, it has only been amended seventeen times since the adoption of the bill of rights in 1791.

state constitutions are more open to amendments. amendments can be proposed by legislature, a constitutional commission or citizens’ petition and can be accepted by referendum.   for example. the constitution of massachusetts has been amended one hundred and twenty times. the constitution of georgia has even been replaced altogether as many as ten times.

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what figures of speech are used in these lines from shakespeare's sonnet 29? "haply i think on thee and then my state,/ like to the lark at break of day arising/ from sullen earth, sings hymns

what figures of speech are used in these lines from shakespeare's sonnet 29? "haply i think on thee and then my state,/ like to the lark at break of day arising/ from sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate."

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kimberleemay enotes educator| certified educator

the speaker is distressed about his fate, but when he thinks of his love, his condition improves.

the condition improving is then compared in a simile:

his mood improves and gets better "like to the lark at break of day " like a lark rising into the skies. the simile is comparing his mood to a lark soaring.

there's also examples of personification, sullen is an adjective that describes a human characteristic. once the poet establishes the simile, he extends the speaker's "mood" sings.  

hyperbole is exemplified by the idea of his mood improving enough to reach heaven's gate.

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