Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
The famous English poet and playwright of the Elizabethan period, William Shakespeare was born on 26 April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He started writing from a very young age. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582. They had three children. He went to London and started writing and acting in the theater there. He started writing comedies in the beginning and later turned towards tragedies and historical plays. He wrote 38 dramas including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello, and 154 sonnets. His sonnets are full of love and in definite Shakespearean structure. He died on 23 April 1616 at the age of 52.
Summary of the Poem
“Sonnet 18” was composed by William Shakespeare. The sonnet is about his immortal love towards his beloved. He emphasizes the admiration of his beloved’s lasting beauty that will never fade, unlike beauty found in nature. The sonnet explores the themes of love, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the immortality of art.
In the beginning of the poem the poet asks his beloved if he should compare her to a summer's day. Then he asserts she is more lovely and enduring (lasting for a long time) than summer. He says that the violent summer winds are a threat to the lovely flower buds that appear in May. He argues that summer doesn’t last very long as it must abide by the natural law. He says that sometimes the sun is too hot and sometimes too dimmed due to clouds. He admires the beauty of his beloved indirectly by showing the limitations of the summer season.
The poet believes that everything beautiful changes with time. This degradation takes place by chance or by the rule of nature. The beauty of his beloved is not subject to mutability that characterizes all earthly things. He thinks that death will never be able to take his beloved because she exists in the lines of his poem. He concludes that as long as there is human existence the poems he composes will live on, allowing the immortality of his beloved to keep living, too.
Exploring the Text
1. What is the main theme of Sonnet 18?
Ans- The poem explores the themes of love, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the immortality of art.
2. What does the poet compare his beloved to in the poem?
Ans- In the poem, the poet compares his beloved to a summer’s day.
3. How does the poet describe the summer season in the poem?
Ans- In the poem, the poet talks about summer as a time with strong winds, hot sun, and clouds sometimes blocking the sunlight. He says it doesn't last very long.
4. Why does the poet compare his beloved with summer’s day?
Ans- The poet compares his beloved to a summer's day because summer is thought to be very beautiful, full of good things, and lively. He wants to show that his beloved is even more beautiful and glowing than a summer's day.
5. How does Shakespeare contrast the beauty of his beloved with the beauty of summer?
Ans- Shakespeare contrasts the beauty of his beloved with the beauty of summer by saying that her beauty is more lasting and enduring.
6. What is the significance of the poet's claim that his beloved will live on in his poem?
Ans- The poet's claim that his beloved will live on in his poem is significant because it suggests that the power of art can transcend death.
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