Sonnet 18 Group

Topic: the use of summer in sonnet 18

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1

Is summer presented in a meaningful, traditional way or an unusual way?

2

mshurn

The idea that summer is brief is not exactly revolutionaryl, but within the context of the poem, summer is presented in a bit of an unusual way. Instead of being celebrated for its glory and loveliness, its flaws are expressed. There are "darling buds" in May, but the winds of May are "rough." The summer sun is sometimes too hot, and it is often obscured by clouds. By presenting summer as less than ideal, Shakespeare is extolling by contrast the superiority of the subject of his poem.

3

I think that the use of summer becomes more effective when it is compared to the context of the person with whom there is a shared love.  The concept of comparing loved ones to weather is not really new, but the way it is presented in this sonnet is unique.  Weather is unpredictable, changing and features moments of discomfort.  The love the speaker shares with the other person, though, is constant, filled with moments of comfort and security.  This is a new way to see the link between weather and love.

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