Sonnet 18 Figurative Language

Is preserving love a possible task? One can say it is rather strenuous to do so, or it might even be impossible. It has been proven in a notable sonnet that love is infinite, and it can be quite challenging to preserve it. “Sonnet 18,” which is alternatively called, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” is one of the most well-known sonnets written by Williams Shakespeare in the year 1609. This sonnet has been encompassed in a collection along with 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare during his time. In this sonnet, the speaker questions whether it is feasible to compare his beloved to the transitory days of summer. He doubts himself, and he wants to prove that it is unthinkable to compare the eternal beauty of his beloved to anything else,

In line 6, he states that there are times that the sun often becomes dim once it hides behind clouds. He also describes in line 7 and 8 that something beautiful and ravishing eventually fades. It can lose its beauty by fate or misfortune, or it can be because of nature. Again, figurative language is evident in these lines. For example, line 6 demonstrates personification, for the sun has been given a possessive pronoun as in having a complexion like regular beings. Furthermore, line 7 indicates alliteration, for each word of the phrase, “—fair from fair,” begin with the same initial letter. Throughout these lines, a shift occurs, and it starts from line 7. The speaker illustrated previously about the days in summer and how it only lasts for a short time. He then shifts the topic to the temporary beauty that exists in this world. At last, he expresses directly in the upcoming lines about his beloved’s beauty and describes how it will never

In lines 9 to 10, he claims that her beauty will not fade, for it is infinite. He also adds that she will not lose the charm she holds. In addition, he states in lines 11 to 12 that not even death will claim the speaker’s beloved, and he affirms that his beloved will grow and live forever in his lines of poetry. In lines 13 to 14, he expresses that as long as there are people alive or people who are able to perceive, the poem will be never-ending, and it will grant life to his dearest. The speaker also uses different types of figurative language between these lines. To demonstrate, in line 9, he uses a metaphor to describe the beauty of his beloved. He refers to her beauty as an, “eternal summer,” which means that he describes his beloved’s beauty as a perpetual summer season. In line 11, the speaker personifies death by claiming that it will not have the ability to take away his beloved since death has claimed many people. Also, lines 13 and 14 include anaphora, for the phrase “So long,” has been repeated in the beginning of both lines. Aside from the use of figurative language, the speaker’s tone alters slightly between these lines. His tone can be thought as dramatic, yet devoted. Moreover, he is passionate and romantic in a sense, for he believes that her beauty cannot be compared to the days of summer itself. Another shift occurs again, and it starts from line 9. Previously, he