Sonnet 18
by William Shakespeare
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See Also
- William Shakespeare (Censorship (Ready Reference series))
- William Shakespeare: The Man (Critical Survey of Drama, Second Revised Edition)
- William Shakespeare: The Dramatist (Critical Survey of Drama, Second Revised Edition)
- William Shakespeare (Critical Survey of Poetry: British, Irish, & Commonwealth Poets)
- William Shakespeare (Cyclopedia of World Authors, Fourth Revised Edition)
- Sonnets (Magill Book Reviews)
- Sonnets of Shakespeare (Masterplots, Fourth Edition)
- Sonnets of Shakespeare (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: William Shakespeare
- First Published: 1609
- Type of Poem: Sonnet
- Genres: Poetry, Sonnet
- Subjects: Love or romance, Nature, Beauty, Flowers, Death or dying, Corruption, Universe, Sun, Summer
The Poem
This fourteen-line poem begins with a straightforward question in the first person, addressed to the object of the poet’s attention: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” After a direct answer, “Thou art more lovely and more temperate,” the next seven lines of the poem develop the comparison with a series of objections to a summer day.
William Shakespeare develops the “temperate” elements of his comparison first, leaving the “lovely” qualities for later consideration. His first criticism of summer is that in May rough winds shake the...
(The entire page is 1423 words.)
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Popular Questions
See all »- What metaphors and symbols are used in sonnet 18 by Shakespeare? I thought about the summer as a symbol for youth.
- What is the main purpose of Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare?
- Compare the feelings presented in Romeo & Juliet with Sonnet 130 and Sonnet 18?
- Please explain the last two lines of "Sonnet 18" by William shakespeare.
- Compare and contrast Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 130.
