Question

shakespeares sonnets 18, 98, 116
part 1: identifying literary devices
read each sonnet carefully (included below), then answer the questions that follow. to the right of each sonnet, write a brief paraphrase in contemporary language.
sonnet 18
shall i compare thee to a summers day?
thou art more lovely and more temperate:
rough winds do shake the darling buds of may,
and summers lease hath all too short a date:
sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
and often is his gold complexion dimmd;
and every fair from fair sometime declines,
by chance or natures changing course untrimmd;
but thy eternal summer shall not fade,
nor lose possession of that fair thou owst;
nor shall death brag thou wanderst in his shade,
when in eternal lines to time thou growst:
so long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
questions:
metaphor: identify the central metaphor in the poem. what is the speaker comparing, and how does this metaphor evolve?
personification: find two examples of personification. what effect do these have on the tone or imagery of the sonnet?
alliteration: find an example of alliteration. how does it enhance the rhythm or meaning of the line?
sonnet 98
from you have i been absent in the spring,
when proud - pied april dressd in all his trim
hath put a spirit of youth in everything,
that heavy saturn laughd and leapd with him.
yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell
of different flowers in odour and in hue
could make me any summers story tell,
or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
nor did i wonder at the lilys white,
nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
they were but sweet, but figures of delight,
drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
yet seemd it winter still, and you away,
as with your shadow i with these did play

Explanation:

Metaphor in Sonnet 18: The speaker compares the beloved to a summer's day. The comparison starts by highlighting the beauty and mild - ness of summer, but then shows that while summer is fleeting, the beloved's beauty is eternal as it is preserved in the poem.
Personification in Sonnet 18: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May" gives winds the human - like action of shaking. "And summer's lease hath all too short a date" personifies summer as having a lease, like a human renting something. These add a vivid and emotional tone, making nature seem more active and the passing of time more poignant.
Alliteration in Sonnet 18: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" has the repeated "s" sound. It creates a smooth and flowing rhythm, drawing the reader in and emphasizing the start of the comparison.

In Sonnet 98, "When proud - pied April dress'd in all his trim" is personification, giving April human qualities of being proud and dressed. Another personification is "That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him" where Saturn is given the actions of laughing and leaping.

Answer:

Metaphor in Sonnet 18: The speaker compares the beloved to a summer's day. The metaphor evolves from highlighting the initial similarities to contrasting the impermanence of summer with the eternal nature of the beloved's beauty as preserved in the poem.
Personification in Sonnet 18: 1. "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May" gives winds a human - like action. Effect: Adds vividness to the description of nature and a sense of vulnerability to the buds. 2. "And summer's lease hath all too short a date" makes summer seem like a tenant. Effect: Personifies the passing of time, making it more relatable and poignant.
Alliteration in Sonnet 18: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" The repeated "s" sound enhances the rhythm, making the line more musical and drawing attention to the start of the comparison.
Personification in Sonnet 98: 1. "When proud - pied April dress'd in all his trim" makes April seem like a proud person dressed up. Effect: Adds a lively and whimsical tone to the description of spring. 2. "That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him" gives Saturn human actions. Effect: Creates a sense of joy and playfulness in the description of the season.