Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

By William Shakespeare

1 Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

2 Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

3 Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

4 And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

5 Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

6 And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

7 And every fair from fair sometime declines,

8 By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;

9 But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

10 Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

11 Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

12 When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:

13 So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

14 So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

About Shakespeare: William Shakespeare was a famous
English writer who lived in the late 1500s and early 1600s. He
wrote plays, poems, and sonnets (short love poems).

What is a sonnet? A sonnet is a type of poem that consists of

14 lines. Each line is written in a specific rhythm called iambic
pentameter, where each line has 10 syllables with a pattern of
unstressed and stressed syllables. The sonnet is known for its
strict structure and rhyme scheme.

In the case of Sonnet 18, this poem follows the

Shakespearean or English sonnet form. This structure is made up of three quatrains
(four-line stanzas) followed by a rhyming couplet (two lines that rhyme). The rhyme
scheme for a Shakespearean sonnet is: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

The Shakespearean sonnet is commonly used to express deep feelings or thoughts,

often about love or beauty, but it can cover many different themes. Sonnets were very
popular in Elizabethan England and were used by poets to explore both personal
emotions and broader philosophical ideas.

Themes in the Poem

1. Beauty and Nature: The speaker

compares his beloved to summer but
argues that the beloved is even more
beautiful and lasting.
2. Immortality Through Poetry: The
speaker believes that as long as people
read this poem, the beauty of the beloved
will live forever.
3. Time and Change: Summer fades, but
the beloved’s beauty will not, thanks to
the poem.
Tone and Mood

REMEMBER:

Tone Mood

NARRATOR’S attitude
towards the subject How the narrator wants the
READER to feel about the subject

Tone: Admiring, confident, and proud. The speaker praises the beloved and is sure that
the poem will keep their beauty alive forever.
Mood: Warm and uplifting, with a sense of permanence.

When analysing the Which words or literary devises stand out? Why might the
tone of a writer ask writer have used these words or devices? How might the
yourself: writer feel about the subject?
When analysing the What emotions do I feel as the audience? Which words or
mood ask yourself: phrases evoke these emotions?
Line-by-Line Analysis

Line 1: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

The poem begins with a rhetorical question, which

immediately engages us and introduces the comparison
at the heart of the sonnet. By asking this question, the
speaker invites us to consider how the beloved might
resemble a summer’s day. This comparison is a
metaphor for beauty, warmth, and perfection. The
question mark at the end suggests reflection, almost
as if the speaker is pausing to think.

Line 2: "Thou art more lovely and more temperate:"

Here, the speaker answers the question from the first line. He claims that the beloved
is not only more lovely but also more "temperate," which means more balanced and
gentler. This line contrasts the beloved’s steady beauty with the inconsistencies of
summer. Notice the colon at the end of the line—it suggests that the speaker is about
to explain or expand on this thought.
Line 3: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,”

The imagery here is vivid, as the "rough winds" bring to mind the unpredictability of
nature, disrupting the delicate "darling buds" of May. The use of personification
gives the winds human-like qualities—they "shake" the buds, which makes the scene
feel more alive. The word "darling" emphasizes the fragile beauty of nature, which,
unlike the beloved, is fleeting.

Line 4: "And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:"

This line uses a metaphor, comparing summer to a lease, like a rental agreement,
which inevitably comes to an end. The phrase "all too short" highlights the brevity of
summer, introducing a slightly melancholic tone as the speaker reflects on the
temporary nature of beauty. The colon at the end signals further explanation.

Line 5: "Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,"

The "eye of heaven" is a metaphor for the sun, which is also personified as
something that can shine too intensely. This line highlights another flaw of summer—
it can be uncomfortably hot. The imagery paints a picture of the sun’s overpowering
heat, reinforcing the idea that summer, while beautiful, is imperfect.
 Line 6: "And often is his gold complexion dimmed;"

Continuing with the focus on the sun, its "gold complexion" is a metaphor, likening
the sun’s light to a golden face. However, this beauty is often "dimmed," suggesting
cloudy days or the fading of sunlight. The personification of the sun as something
with a "complexion" shows that even it is not eternal, unlike the beloved.

Line 7: "And every fair from fair sometime declines,"

This line reflects on the fleeting nature of all beauty. The

repetition of "fair" emphasises the inevitability of
change—it suggests that everything beautiful eventually
fades. The personification of beauty as something that
"declines" mirrors the natural process of aging, tying
back to the theme of transience.

Line 8: "By chance or nature’s changing course

untrimmed:"

Here, the speaker explains why beauty fades. "Chance" represents random
misfortune, while "nature’s changing course" refers to the unavoidable passage of
time. The word "untrimmed" suggests something that becomes unpolished or
uncontrolled over time. This line reinforces the idea that beauty is at the mercy of
external forces.

Line 9: "But thy eternal summer shall not fade,"

This line marks a significant shift in tone. The speaker contrasts the imperfections of
nature with the beloved’s timeless beauty, describing it as an "eternal summer." This
metaphor symbolises perfection and everlasting charm. The use of "shall not fade"
conveys certainty and hope, directly opposing the earlier lines about fading beauty.

Line 10: "Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;"

In this line, the speaker assures the beloved that they will never lose their beauty. The
word "ow’st" implies that the beloved possesses their beauty as something
permanent. This reinforces the tone of confidence and immortality.
 Line 12: "When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:"

The "eternal lines" are a metaphor for the poem itself, which immortalises the
beloved. The imagery of "growing" in the lines suggests that the beloved’s memory
will flourish and live on through the poem. This ties strongly to the theme of
immortality through art.

Line 13-14: "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

In this rhyming couplet, Shakespeare concludes the poem with a powerful statement about the
immortality of both the poem and the beloved. The phrase "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see"
is a hyperbole (exaggeration) that suggests the poem will last for as long as humanity exists.

The use of personification in "this gives life to thee" implies that the poem itself has the power to grant
the beloved eternal life. The rhyming couplet (with "see" and "thee") neatly ties up the sonnet by
emphasising that the beloved’s beauty will live on forever through the words of the poem, even beyond
physical death.

This final couplet brings a sense of closure, confidence, and triumph, suggesting that while all things in
nature fade, art—and especially poetry—can preserve them for eternity
Activity:
1.1 What season does the speaker compare the beloved to? (1)
1.2 Name one flaw of summer mentioned in the poem. (1)
1.3 According to the speaker, how will the beloved’s beauty be preserved? (2)
2.1 What does the phrase “summer’s lease” in line 4 suggest about the season? (2)
2.2 Explain the meaning of “eternal lines” in line 12. (2)
3.1 Identify and explain the metaphor in the line, “Thy eternal summer shall
not fade.” (3)
3.2 How does Shakespeare use personification to describe nature in the poem?
Provide two examples. (4)
4.1 Explain how the theme of immortality is developed in the poem. (3)
4.2 What is the tone of the poem? Support your answer with evidence. (3)
5.1 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? (1)
5.2 Why is the rhyming couplet at the end of the sonnet significant? (3)
6. Do you agree that the poem successfully conveys the idea of eternal beauty?
Justify your response. (3)

Activity Answers:
1.1 What season does the speaker compare the beloved to? (1)
Summer. ✔
1.2 Name one flaw of summer mentioned in the poem. (1)
Summer’s lease is too short. ✔
Rough winds shake the buds of May. ✔ (Alternative answer)
The sun can shine too hot or be dimmed. ✔ (Alternative answer)
1.3 According to the speaker, how will the beloved’s beauty be preserved? (2)
The beloved’s beauty will be preserved through the “eternal lines” of
the poem. ✔
As long as people read the poem, the beloved’s beauty will live forever. ✔
(Alternative phrasing)
2.1 What does the phrase “summer’s lease” in line 4 suggest about the season? (2)
It suggests that summer is temporary or short-lived. ✔
The word "lease" implies that summer, like a rental agreement, has a fixed time
and must come to an end. ✔ (Alternative answer)
2.2 Explain the meaning of “eternal lines” in line 12. (2)
"Eternal lines" refer to the lines of the poem, which will preserve the beloved’s
beauty forever. ✔
The phrase symbolizes the lasting power of poetry to immortalize the beloved. ✔
(Alternative phrasing)
3.1 Identify and explain the metaphor in the line, “Thy eternal summer shall
not fade.” (3)
Identification: "Eternal summer" is the metaphor. ✔
Explanation: It compares the beloved’s timeless beauty to an everlasting
summer. Unlike an actual summer, which fades, the beloved’s beauty will
remain eternal. ✔✔
3.2 How does Shakespeare use personification to describe nature in the poem?
Provide two examples. (4)
Example 1: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May"—the winds are
described as rough and capable of shaking the buds, giving them human-like
qualities. ✔
Example 2: "The eye of heaven shines"—the sun is personified as having an eye
that shines with intensity. ✔
Example 3 (Alternative answer): "Death brag thou wander’st in his shade"—
death is personified as someone who might boast about taking the beloved. ✔
4.1 Explain how the theme of immortality is developed in the poem. (3)
The speaker contrasts the fleeting nature of summer and physical beauty with
the eternal preservation of the beloved’s beauty through poetry. ✔
The “eternal lines” of the poem ensure that the beloved’s beauty will not fade or
die as long as the poem is read. ✔
This idea is reinforced in the final couplet, where the speaker asserts that the
beloved will live as long as men can breathe or eyes can see. ✔
4.2 What is the tone of the poem? Support your answer with evidence. (3)
Tone: Admiring, confident, and uplifting. ✔
Evidence: The speaker confidently states, “So long as men can breathe or eyes
can see, / So long lives this, and this gives life to thee,” showing pride in the
poem’s ability to preserve the beloved’s beauty forever. ✔✔
5.1 What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. ✔
5.2 Why is the rhyming couplet at the end of the sonnet significant? (3)
The rhyming couplet emphasizes the poem’s main message: the beloved’s
beauty will live forever through the written words. ✔
It provides closure and reinforces the theme of immortality. ✔
The confident tone in “this gives life to thee” assures the reader of the speaker’s
belief in poetry’s eternal power. ✔
6. Do you agree that the poem successfully conveys the idea of eternal beauty?
Justify your response. (3)
Yes, I agree.
The poem contrasts the fleeting nature of summer with the everlasting
nature of poetry. ✔
The repetition of ideas about time and immortality (e.g., “eternal lines”
and “so long as men can breathe”) effectively supports the argument. ✔
The poem’s structure and use of imagery make the message clear and
convincing. ✔
(Alternative answer):
No, I disagree.
The speaker’s claim that poetry can preserve beauty forever may seem
exaggerated. ✔
Not everyone will read or remember the poem indefinitely. ✔
While the imagery is vivid, the idea of eternal beauty may rely too much
on subjective interpretation. ✔
Quiz:
1. What is the type of sonnet used in Sonnet 18?
2. How many lines does a sonnet have?
3. What is the rhyme scheme of this sonnet?
4. How many quatrains are in this sonnet?
5. What is a rhyming couplet?
6. In Sonnet 18, what does the speaker compare the beloved to?
7. What does the speaker say about the beloved in line 2?
8. What natural event does the speaker mention in line 3 that disrupts summer?
9. What is "summer's lease" a metaphor for in line 4?
10. In line 5, what does "the eye of heaven" refer to?
11. What does the phrase "his gold complexion dimm'd" mean in line 6?
12. What does the word "fair" refer to in line 7?
13. What does the speaker mean when he says "thy eternal summer shall not fade" in
line 9?
14. In line 10, what does "lose possession of that fair thou ow’st" mean?
15. What is the "eternal lines" in line 12 a metaphor for?
16. What literary device is used in the phrase "So long as men can breathe, or eyes can
see" in lines 13-14?
17. What is the purpose of the rhyming couplet at the end of the poem?
18. What is the tone of the poem?

Answers:
1. Shakespearean sonnet.
2. 14 lines.
3. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
4. Three quatrains (four-line stanzas).
5. A pair of lines that rhyme (two lines at the end of a sonnet).
6. A summer's day.
7. The beloved is more lovely and more temperate (gentler and more balanced) than a
summer's day.
8. Rough winds.
9. Summer’s lease refers to the temporary nature of summer, like a rental agreement
that has an end date.
10. The sun.
11. It means that the sun’s golden beauty is often covered or dimmed by clouds.
12. Fair refers to beauty or things that are beautiful.
13. The speaker means that the beloved’s beauty will not fade, unlike summer, which is
temporary.
14. It means that the beloved will not lose their beauty, as it is permanent.
15. The "eternal lines" refer to the poem itself, which immortalizes the beloved’s beauty.
16. Hyperbole (an exaggeration).
17. It concludes the poem by emphasizing that the beloved’s beauty will live on forever
through the poem, as long as humanity exists.
18. The tone is admiring, confident, and proud, as the speaker praises the beloved and
expresses certainty that their beauty will last forever.