Sonnet 18

written in Iambic Pentameter. These sonnets exclusively employ the rhyme scheme, which has

come to be called the Shakespearean Sonnet. The sonnets are composed of an octet and sestet

and typically progress through three quatrains to a concluding couplet. It also contains figurative

language and different poetic devices used to create unique effects in his sonnets.

Shakespeare’s sonnets consist of words constructed in a certain manner or form, thoughts,

emotion and poetic devices. One way to interpret the sonnet is to think of “thee” that

Shakespeare is referring to as a person. Following that line of thought the sonnet could read that

Shakespeare is in love with someone who is consistently beautiful. He tries to compare this

person to summer but summer is not as beautiful or constant. This person in Shakespeare’s eyes

will never grow old and ugly and not even Death can say that his person’s end is near.

In line 1, he starts the poem with a question. He asks if he should compare the person to

a summer’s day but ends up not doing so realizing that the person i

. . .
In line 11 Death is being

compared to a braggart giving Death a human quality.

He explains that the person’s characteristics is moderate and comfortable and has favorable

qualities in line 2. I enjoyed this sonnet because Shakespeare had

the ability to show his poetic skills in appropriating metaphors and conceits in clever ways, so

that the poem becomes, not just a tribute to the beloved but also a testament to his great skill as a

poet. In this case, the rhyme scheme of the quatrains is: abab cdcd efef gg. You are not going to

lose possession of that beauty that you own, Shakespeare explains in line 10. He explains how the summer can be

extremely hot and uncomfortable. In lines 6

and 7 and and & fair fair. Meter is a sort of up

down bouncy ball type of sound that goes along with the line of poetry. Instead of the octave and sestet divisions, this sonnet characteristically embodies

four divisions. Iambic Pentameter is essentially the meter or the basic rhythm of

Shakespeare’s sonnets. At the end of the sonnet, he writes about

“eternal lines” which symbolizes that the beloved’s beauty will grow in this poem forever. Words such as compare summers, rough buds,

sometime declines, in his, thou grow’st, breathe see and lives his gives are all assonance. It develops the idea of this sonnet.

This sonnet has a basic form or structure.

Common topics in this essay:
Shakespearean Sonnet, Shakespeares Sonnet, Iambic Pentameter, sonnet 18, summers day, fair fair, line sonnet, rhyme scheme, , figurative language, beloveds beauty, poetic devices, sonnet shakespeare, fourteen lines, William Shakespeares, person summers day, 18 extended metaphor, sonnet 18 extended, beloved summers day, lines 5 6,

Approximate Word count = 1602
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here