--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded…" description: "\"“Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded him of how Shakespeare was supposed to look. He was not certain how to put this to her.”\" — Ian McEwan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/ian-mcewan-494_forehead_her-forehead-so-high-and-oval-reminded-h_1897186.png" --- # Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded him of how… ![“Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded him of how Shakespeare was supposed to look. He was not certain how to put this to her.” quote by Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/ian-mcewan-494_forehead_her-forehead-so-high-and-oval-reminded-h_1897186.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/ian-mcewan-494_forehead_her-forehead-so-high-and-oval-reminded-h_1897186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/ian-mcewan-494_forehead_her-forehead-so-high-and-oval-reminded-h_1897186.png) > ““Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded him of how Shakespeare was supposed to look. He was not certain how to put this to her.”” [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator compares a woman's forehead to an imagined Shakespearean look, revealing his uncertainty in expressing admiration. **In simple terms:** He likens her forehead to Shakespeare but is unsure how to convey it. Key Takeaway Acknowledge admiration directly. Themes uncertainty admiration perception Mood reflective tentative Type literary conversational When to use this quote - social interaction - romantic interest - artistic imagination Key Concepts literary comparison self-consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How can you express admiration without overanalyzing? - What does this reveal about his self‑image? A Different Perspective He may overthink and miss genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forehead/) [Forehead High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forehead-high-2777405/) [Reminded Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reminded-shakespeare-2777404/) [Shakespeare Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-supposed-2777406/) [Supposed Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-look-330598/) ## Related quotes > [My forehead is sometimes too high, but bangs could correct this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-windsor/my-forehead-is-sometimes-too-high-but-bangs-could-correct-this/) [Marie Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-windsor/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Don't be put off by someone telling you that your image looks too digital; maybe that's the way it's supposed to look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-khan/don-t-be-put-off-by-someone-telling-you-that-your-image-looks-too/) [Idris Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-khan/) > [I've been around dance all my life, which means I know what it's supposed to look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-ve-been-around-dance-all-my-life-which-means-i-know-what-it-s/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [“The woman had an interesting set of features on her. Like she wasn’t quite sure what beautiful was supposed to look like. Her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-barnett/the-woman-had-an-interesting-set-of-features-on-her-like-she-wasn-t/) [Noah Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-barnett/) > [“Art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/art-wasn-t-supposed-to-look-nice-it-was-supposed-to-make-you-feel/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [You're supposed to look a certain way when you're a celebrity, but I want to take care of my baby, and those two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/you-re-supposed-to-look-a-certain-way-when-you-re-a-celebrity-but-i/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [You don't understand who they thought I was supposed to be. 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Stay beautiful, keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/don-t-ever-let-the-media-tell-you-what-your-body-is-supposed-look/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“You’re not supposed to look so excited when I threaten you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurann-dohner/you-re-not-supposed-to-look-so-excited-when-i-threaten-you/) [Laurann Dohner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurann-dohner/) > [Often too many expectations are put on by society as to what we're supposed to look like and it's fed to people at an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-clare/often-too-many-expectations-are-put-on-by-society-as-to-what-we-re/) [Dustin Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-clare/) > [If someone tells you what something is supposed to look like or to follow a specific trend, but it looks silly on you, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquaria/if-someone-tells-you-what-something-is-supposed-to-look-like-or-to/) [Aquaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquaria/) ## More by Ian McEwan > [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. Like a spode dinner plate. Or a single cell. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/perhaps-it-s-one-of-those-cases-of-a-microcosm-giving-you-the-whole/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Who you get, and how it works out- there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/who-you-get-and-how-it-works-out-there-s-so-much-luck-involved-as/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“On Chesil Beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/on-chesil-beach-he-could-have-called-out-to-florence-he-could-have/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It was always the view of my parents...that hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-was-always-the-view-of-my-parents-that-hot-weather-encouraged/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-apologize-for-being-obvious-but-every-time-i-watch-the-curtain-come/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) [Explore all 496 Ian McEwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More Forehead quotes > [When you are the WWE Champion, you have an X right on your forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/when-you-are-the-wwe-champion-you-have-an-x-right-on-your-forehead/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [“Put it on your forehead and you'll feel better in no time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-f-jones-hetalia/put-it-on-your-forehead-and-you-ll-feel-better-in-no-time/) [Alfred F. Jones Hetalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-f-jones-hetalia/) > [I have this lock of hair that keeps falling across my forehead. It drives me mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/i-have-this-lock-of-hair-that-keeps-falling-across-my-forehead-it/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [Darkdoom? Darkdoom did this?" Nero was visibly surprised. He placed a hand on his forehead, rubbing his temples. "Oh, why is it always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walden/darkdoom-darkdoom-did-this-nero-was-visibly-surprised-he-placed-a/) [Mark Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walden/) > [I have a big forehead, and I got made fun of all time. When I was a little girl, they used to call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-big-forehead-and-i-got-made-fun-of-all-time-when-i-was-a/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [The camera hound of the future wears on his forehead a lump a little larger than a walnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-camera-hound-of-the-future-wears-on-his-forehead-a-lump-a-little/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Your wife is always right. Very simple. I think I'm going to get it tattooed on my forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/your-wife-is-always-right-very-simple-i-think-i-m-going-to-get-it/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I had those full-feathered bangs that started all the way at the back of your head. My forehead isn't very big; I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-fishel/i-had-those-full-feathered-bangs-that-started-all-the-way-at-the-back/) [Danielle Fishel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-fishel/) > [“You can give your life meaning.' She stroked my forehead from the center to the temples, with just her fingertips. 'We all can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-smith-ready/you-can-give-your-life-meaning-she-stroked-my-forehead-from-the/) [Jeri Smith-Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-smith-ready/) > [I have wrinkles which are very evident. I will particularly say when I look at movie posters, 'You guys have airbrushed my forehead. Please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-have-wrinkles-which-are-very-evident-i-will-particularly-say-when-i/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“His face just looks like one of those long, narrow stones in the graveyard, doesn't it? 'Sacred to the memory' ought to be written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/his-face-just-looks-like-one-of-those-long-narrow-stones-in-the/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“A vein throbs to the left of his forehead. It pulsates, mirroring the violence in the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-gott/a-vein-throbs-to-the-left-of-his-forehead-it-pulsates-mirroring-the/) [M.R. Gott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-r-gott/) > [I'm not good at Disney acting. I'm really not. I never was on that audition list, which I don't mind. I don't know. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-m-not-good-at-disney-acting-i-m-really-not-i-never-was-on-that/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing you on the forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-lover-is-the-man-who-can-thrill-you-by-kissing-you-on-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I came out of my mom's womb, I had 'sitcom' stamped on my forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hayes/when-i-came-out-of-my-mom-s-womb-i-had-sitcom-stamped-on-my-forehead/) [Sean Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hayes/) [Browse all 132 Forehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forehead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Her forehead, so high and oval, reminded him of how Shakespeare was supposed to look. 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