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

Q. How does Shakespeare immortalize his friend’s beauty?

Ans. The poem,‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ centres round the eternal beauty of the poet’s friend. According to the poet, his beauty is more charming and lasting than the summer season. The beauty of a summer’s day is subject to change and decay. On the other hand, the beauty of the poet’s friend has an eternal summer, beyond the reach of time or death. As long as men will live, see and read, they will love and admire the poet’s friend who shall live eternally through his poem, written in the friend’s praise. Thus, Shakespeare immortalizes his friend’s beauty.

Q. “… and this gives life to thee.”  - what does ‘this’refer to? Who is referred to by ‘thee’? how does ‘this’ give life?

Ans. ‘This’ refers to the lines of Sonnet 18 written by Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s beloved friend is referred to by ‘Thee’.

            William Shakespeare describes his friend’s beauty in Sonnet 18. He is very confident about his poetry. He believes that as long as his poetry lives, this gives life to his friend. His friend’s summer will never fade because his verse will made it immortal. He confidently says that so long as man can see or brreathe in this world, his sonnet will be read and the theme of the sonnet will be survived. In this way, ‘this’ gives life to his friend.

Q. What type of poem is ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’ – Who is the poet? Whom does the poet speak of? What does the poet say about the person spoken of?

Ans. ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’ is a Shakespearean sonnet.

The poet is William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare reveals that the earthly object decays in the course of time. Summer stays for a short period. The buds of May are destroyed by violent winds. The brightness of the Sun is dimmed by clouds. But, his friend’s beauty never fades. Even death can not grab him. He exists in the eternal lines of his poetry. So long as man can see or breath, his poetry will live and it will give life to his friend.

Short Questions:

1.     What shakes the darling buds of May?

2.     ‘But thy eternal summer shall nnot fade.’ – what does the word ‘summer’ refer to here?

3.     ‘and often is his gold complexion dimmed’ – whose complexion is referred to here?

4.     What does Shakespeare compare his friend to?

5.     What shall death not brag?

6.     What will make the beauty of the poet’s friend eternal?

Grammar:

1.     Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? (Turn into an assertive sentence)

2.     One of the greatest writers in the English language are William Shakespeare. (Error correction)

3.     We went to the station to see them away. (Error correction)

4.     Either he or I is right. (Error correction)

5.     Everyone of us here have a compassionate heart. (Error correction)

6.     Time and tide waits for no man. (Error correction)