Sonnet 18
- William Shakespeare
✓From the topic itself we can identify what type of poem it is. This poem is sonnet.
✓ Sonnet -> A lyric poem of fourteen lines, following one or another of set rhyme schemes.
Features of sonnet :
1. Fourteen lines : All sonnets have 14 lines, which can be broken down into four sections called quatrains.
There are four quatrains. The first three quartains contain four lines each and use an alternating rhyme schemes. The final quatrain consists of just two lines , which both rhyme .
2. A strict rhyme scheme: The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet, for example, is ABAB / CDCD / EFEF / GG (note the four distinct sections in the rhyme scheme).
3. Written in iambic pentameter: Sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, a poetic meter with 10 beats per line made up of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables.
* Iamb - a metrical foot consisting an unstressed syllable followed by stressed syllable.
* Penta means 5.
Example for poem :
Unstressed (°)
Stressed (^)
Shall I com pare thee to a sum mer's day?
° ^ ° ^ ° ^ ° ^ ° ^
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Background on author (Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is universally acknowledged as one of England's finest poets and playwright being the author of some 38 play, 154 sonnets and a number of poems. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, allegedly on April 23. He was born to John Shakespeare, a glover and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a landed heiress. According to scholars, Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford, which at the time had a reputation to rival Eton. From 1584 and 1592 he started writing, was an actor and also was a part owner of the theatrical company the 'Lord Chamberlain's men' - later to be renamed the 'King's men'. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories and these works remain regarded as some of the best work produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. She was eight years older than him. They had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. After his marriage information about his life became very rare. But he is thought to have spent most of his time in London writing and performing in his play. Around 1613, at the age of 49, he retired to Stratford , where he died three years later. He died on 23 April 1616, at the age of 52. He died within a month of signing his will, a document which he begins by describing himself as being in "perfect health". In his will, Shakespeare left the bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna. Shakespeare's plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.
Summary
The poem "sonnet 18" which was authored by William Shakespeare is one of the best known poem of the 154 sonnets. In this poem, the speaker begins by asking if he should compare his beloved to a summer's day. He ponders over the thought and remarks that his beloved is more beautiful and gentle than summer. During summer, the strong winds often threaten the newly formed buds of the beautiful flowers of May and summer is also not very long. It is very short lived. The speaker describes yet another flaw in summer's beauty. Sometimes the sun shines with all it's might and we feel too hot. Often the golden colour of the sun is overshadowed by dark clouds. All the beautiful things are eventually destined to fade away, either by chance or due to the exchanging course of nature. The speaker tells him that his beauty is eternal. It will never fade. The speaker tells him that you should not be afraid of losing the charm that you have now. Time will never be able to take it from you. Similarly, death will also fail in dispossessing him of his beauty. The speaker says that you will keep on growing in the eternal lines . These lines do not come under the influence of time and will be able to remain in world till the end of time. As long as people live and breathe on this earth, as long as eyes can see, this sonnet would survive and give life to his beloved, thereby making his youthful beauty immortal.
Reflection on the poem
"Sonnet 18 " is one of the best known poem because it's a love poem. After going through the poem i get to know that Shakespeare wrote this poem inorder to express his thoughts and feelings to his loved ones. This poem shows the stability of love and it's power to immortalize someone and to carry the beauty of the beloved down to future generations. This poem had a lot of sentimental and full of feelings.
Group members:
Thinley Dhendup
Manita Majhi
