Question

name: period: sonnet 18 - standard based questions 1. why does the sonnet begin with a question? how does it effect our understanding of the poem? 2. how is the poems intended recipient different from the summer? cite evidence from the text to support your response. 3. what is the meaning of the word \lease\ as it is used in the text? write your best definition here, along with a brief explanation of how you arrived at its meaning. 4. highlight the couplet in \sonnet 18\ and analyze its impact on the poems style or meaning.

Explanation:

1. Starting with a question in Sonnet 18 engages the reader and sets a contemplative tone. It leads into the speaker's exploration of the subject's beauty.
2. Evidence from the text to show a different recipient than summer could include lines that focus on the unique qualities of the person being addressed, separating them from the general concept of summer.
3. To define "lease" in the text, one would look at the context - it likely refers to a limited - time or tenure, as in the limited time of summer's beauty compared to the eternal beauty of the subject. Analyze surrounding lines to arrive at this meaning.
4. The couplet in Sonnet 18 often serves to summarize or provide a final, powerful statement. Analyze how it impacts the overall style (e.g., rhyme scheme, meter) and meaning (e.g., conclusion about beauty) of the poem.

Answer:

1. Starting with a question engages the reader and sets up the theme exploration.
2. Lines highlighting unique qualities of the addressee can show a different recipient.
3. "Lease" likely means a limited - time period, based on context.
4. The couplet impacts the poem's style and meaning by summarizing or making a strong final statement.