Your own words:
Shakespeare is comparing the subject of his poem's beauty to that of summer. Summer is has rough winds, is sometimes too hot, and often loses its glimmer. But the subject's beauty will never fade, even in light of death, since beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As long as they can remember and see their beauty (maybe in a picture), then her beauty will remain pristine.
Meaning of the Poem
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Title Interpretation
What is your initial interpretation of the poem title?
It's the 18th sonnet that Shakespeare wrote.
Did your interpretation of the title change after reading the poem several times? If so, how?
No
Poem Details
Subject: An unknown person.
Focus: How a perception of beauty can last longer than the beauty of summer.
Why Written: To express his love and appreciation of the beauty of another.
When Written: 1609
Where Written: outside
Poet’s Attitude: appreciation
Main Theme: beauty – by comparing the subject with the beauty of summer
Poet’s Tone:
reverence
Point of view:
the person in love
Transitions the poet made throughout the poem:
It shifts from summer to the person's beauty, then into death.
Literary devices used:
Similes
None
Metaphors
- summer’s day rough winds
- summer’s lease (time)
- heaven shines
- nature
- eternal summer
- death
Personification
- eye of heaven
- heaven’s gold complexion
- death wandering
Imagery
- summer
- flowers
- sun
- rough winds
Alliteration
None
Author Details
Personal experiences that impacted the author:
- Shakespeare’s starting into the theatrical scene is not really known, except for an attack in 1592 by by the playwright Robert Greene in his Groats-Worth of Wit.
- It appears that Shakespeare was poor as he was accused of stealing a deer from a local a local squire Thomas Lucy.
Historical Context:
- Lived in England
- Started writing when women weren’t allowed to play the female roles.