description Shakespeare: Sonnet 18 Overview
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 presents a timeless meditation on beauty and love. The poem famously argues that its subject's beauty will endure forever through the power of Shakespeare’s words. Written in 1609, it is a cornerstone of Elizabethan lyric poetry appreciated by students, scholars, and anyone interested in romantic literature and the works of William Shakespeare.
help Shakespeare: Sonnet 18 FAQ
What is the rhyme scheme of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18?
Like most Shakespearean sonnets, Sonnet 18 follows a strict ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. It ends with a rhyming couplet that summarizes the poem's theme of eternal love.
To whom is Sonnet 18 addressing the phrase "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
The poem is addressed to the mysterious "Fair Youth," a young man who is the subject of Shakespeare's earlier sonnets. Scholars have debated the real identity of this historical figure for centuries.
How does Sonnet 18 claim the subject will achieve immortality?
The speaker claims that unlike a summer's day, which is fleeting, the youth's "eternal summer" will not fade because it is captured in the written verse. As long as humanity can read, the poem—and the youth—will live on.
When was Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 originally published?
It was published in 1609 within Thomas Thorpe's compilation known as the "Quarto." It is arguably the most famous of all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets.
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