Eternal Summer: A Poetic Analysis of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18
Sonnet 18
Analysis
1. Voice & Mood
Voice: The rhetorical question at the beginning serves to introduce the poem and pique the reader’s curiosity. This sets an expectant tone. The poem is written in the second person, addressing a “thee” within the poem, not the reader directly.
Mood: The poem is a compliment to the beloved, praising their beauty. There’s a double attitude of flattery and assurance, culminating in the concept of eternity. A sense of melancholy underlies the last two verses, suggesting that the eternity spoken of is relative, lasting as long as the English language and culture endure.
2. Summary
The poem describes the speaker’s love, comparing the beloved to a summer’s day. The beloved is declared immortal, transcending the natural cycle of life and death through art. This immortality, however, is tied to the lifespan of the poem itself and its readers, transferring emotions and feelings across time.
3. Topic
The central conflict revolves around the contrast between the natural world (transience) and art (eternity). Two currents emerge: the natural, from birth to death, and the eternal, achieved through art. The beloved escapes mortality through artistic representation, achieving a form of immortality.
4. Structure
Part A (Lines 1-2): The comparison between “thee” and “a summer’s day” is established. This part focuses on the beloved’s superiority to the fleeting beauty of summer.
Part B (Lines 3-8): This section explores the imperfections of summer: rough winds, the brevity of the season, excessive heat, and the changing nature of the natural world.
Part C (Lines 9-14): The beloved’s beauty, unlike summer, is eternalized through the poem. Death and time cannot diminish this immortalized beauty, which persists as long as the poem is read.
Commentary
The poem is written in iambic pentameter, equivalent to the hendecasyllable. It follows the sonnet form: ABAB/CDCD/EFEF/GG, consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet.
Line-by-Line Analysis
1. The opening rhetorical question introduces the comparison between the beloved and a summer’s day. “Summer’s day” holds symbolic value, representing beauty. The comparison creates tension and competitiveness.
2. The second verse expands on the comparison, highlighting the beloved’s superior qualities. The repetition of “more” (anaphora) and the liquid “r” sound enhance the melodic quality.
3. This verse introduces a contrast between negative (“rough winds”) and positive (“darling buds”). The alliteration of “d” creates a harsh sound, while “darling” adds tenderness.
4. A contrast between “summer’s” and “short lease” is presented. The chiasmus (X-shaped structure) maintains interest. “Summer’s lease” is a metaphor for time.
5. Another contrast appears between “too hot” and “the eye of heaven shines.” The anaphora of “too” intensifies the negative. “The eye of heaven” is a metaphor for the sun.
6. The contrast continues with “gold dimmed.” The polysyndeton (repetition of “and”) adds emphasis.
7. The positive “fair” is juxtaposed with “declines.” The anaphora of “fair” and the pun create emphasis.
8. This verse is entirely negative, concluding the argument against summer’s fleeting beauty. The paronomasia (wordplay) between “chance,” “nature,” and “changing” creates a harsh effect.
9. The adversative “but” introduces a shift. “Eternal summer” is a metaphor for the beloved’s beauty. “Eternal” acts as an epithet.
10. The anaphora of “nor” continues the emphasis on the beloved’s enduring beauty. “Possession” and “ow’st” create a sense of insistence.
11. A metaphor for death is introduced. The anaphora of “nor” continues. Death is personified.
12. “Eternal lives” is an epithet and hyperbole. The “t” sounds reinforce the sense of eternity. A hyperbaton (unusual word order) emphasizes “eternal.”
13. The alliteration of “i” creates a melancholic tone. The binary structure emphasizes the concept of eternity.
14. This verse echoes the previous one, reinforcing the theme of immortality through poetry. The paronomasia between “lives” and “life” adds emphasis.