Sonnet 18 Figurative Language

One of the most famous poets and writers of all time was William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was best known for his 154 different sonnets. In each sonnet, he usually asked a question in the first line for the reader to think about. For example, in Sonnet 18, the poem’s first line is “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” As you continue to read the sonnet he answers the question more in depth. This sonnet is also believed to have been written about Shakespeare’s late son. Through the use of metaphors, personification, and repetition in Sonnet 18, William Shakespeare concludes that his lover’s beauty is eternal and will never run out.

Through Shakespeare’s use of a metaphor, you are able to better envision the beauty of his lover in Sonnet 18. For example, Shakespeare states, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” (Lines #1-2). Shakespeare is comparing a summer’s day to his lover’s beauty. He is explaining that his lover is more delightful and easy going then a summer’s day. Shakespeare does this comparison without using a comparison word, such as like or as. He extends the metaphor by… Before this, he first asks if he should compare his lover to a

summer’s day but does not wait for an answer and goes on to compare anyways.
Through Shakespeare’s use of personification, you are able to more easily comprehend Shakespeare’s explanation of what the sun on a summer’s day looks like.

He also explains how beautiful it is compared to his lover. In this sonnet, Shakespeare states, “Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, / And often in his gold complexion dimmed; / And every fair from fair sometime declines. (Lines #5-7). Shakespeare is personifying the sun by talking about it’s ‘gold complexion.’ A sun does not have a face, and therefore does not have a complexion. This section of the poem is stating that Shakespeare’s lover’s gold complexion will never dim, unlike the sun’s. He is explaining that it’s too hot out and the clouds are blocking the sun. He is also saying that beauty lessens over

time.
Through Shakespeare’s use of repetition, you are able to better understand the theme of summer by his reiteration of the word “summer” throughout the paragraph. In sonnet 18, Shakespeare constantly repeats the word, phrase, and theme of summer. As the poem states, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?...And summer’s lease hath all too short a date…But thy eternal summer shall not fade.” (Lines #1, 4, 9). This helps to reinforce the comparison of summer to Shakespeare’s lover’s beauty.
Through Shakespeare’s use of figurative language, you are able to better understand his description of his lover’s beauty. It is also easier to comprehend his reasoning behind using “summer” as something to compare his lover’s beauty too. Shakespeare compares his lover’s beauty to summer because summer is generally a beautiful and joyful time. He is saying that his lover is even better then summer. Through Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, it is revealed that his lover is most likely very attractive and beautiful/handsome.