Shakespeares Poem Explication: Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day?

Table of Contents

Introduction
Shall I compare thee to a summers day?
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

Shakespeare belongs to the most renowned and ever-relevant poets for English, and his works are rich in themes, innovations, and framings. Those familiar with the poet on a superficial level could say that love is Shakespeares forte, and they would not be entirely wrong. Poet has many romantic works, ranging from comedic to tragic, and all shades of a romantic feeling are present in his writing. This essay will analyze one of the writers poems devoted to love and determine how various literary devices enhance the theme.

Shall I compare thee to a summers day?

One of the poems studied in class is Shall I compare thee to a summers day? which serves as a dedication to a woman. The assumption will be addressed while analyzing the devices, which implicitly indicate the gender of the narrator and the messages receiver, but the context also tells one that it is likely to be the case. The juxtaposition of their genders probably implies that one side holds gentle feelings towards the other. However, it remains to be seen if the devices support the hypothesis and gravitate towards the idea that the relationships nature is romantic.

The essential imagery permeating the poem is that of summer, to which the addressee is compared. The choice is probably related to the seasons associations with maturity, full power and beauty, and the best period of life. The image of summer is also very vivid and familiar to everyone, so it can evoke certain emotions and memories. However, the tragedy of any season is that it eventually ends, and in summers case, deterioration begins. On the other hand, the alleged woman is eternal, so she can avoid the unfortunate fate of fading (Shakespeare 18). Thus, the used imagery sets the mood, awakens relevant associations, and alludes to the theme of love through its flattering tone and supposed addressee.

While the imagery could be described as summery, the primary metaphor is a summer day. It has many similarities with the season, especially in its finite nature, but the descriptions applied to the day provide a detailed portrait of the addressee. A summer day is lovely and temperate, and the messages receiver is even more so (Shakespeare 18). She supposedly has a striking gaze, gold complexion, and long fair hair, which are not subject to flaws, unlike a summer day (Shakespeare 18). The addressee is also eternal, and as long as people appreciate her, that infinity will last. It can be surmised that the subjects beauty is of utmost importance to the narrator, considering the attention to her appearance and the metaphors nature. However, it is unlikely that he merely likes the cover; perhaps, love is involved, and it evokes very tender feelings towards the addressee.

The rhyme used in the poem may emphasize the concepts of beauty and love. The poet uses the masculine type to indicate the narrators gender and convince the reader that the addressee is indeed a woman. The four-line pattern permeates the poem except for the last two lines, which are two-line stanzas. It separates them from the rest, and the spacing before them only present in some versions of the sonnet adds to the distinction. Perhaps, the fact that they no longer compare the woman to a summer day but, instead, stipulate the conditions under which the addressees beauty will forever prosper explains the chosen devices. Thus, the rhyme helps one confirm the narrators gender, previously assumed to be male, and the structure harmoniously draws attention to the changes in the message.

The sonnets syntax also creates a certain mood, which may have contributed to the discovered themes. First of all, the poem starts with a question, but its purpose is ambiguous. It could mean permission, which would make the atmosphere more intimate and trustful, or a repetition of what the addressee asks before, making the question more arrogant and the narrator dominant. Inversion is present throughout the poem, and, curiously, only the lines that address the woman directly have the standard word order. It could mean that the narrator wishes to be understood and straightforward with his partner, and the lines relay the main message while the rest gives it flamboyance and vivacity. Perhaps, it is important to impress a woman with fancy words and intricate structure, but letting her know about ones feelings in a more direct way is equally valuable. Altogether, the syntax highlights that the narrator cares about the addressee and wants to appeal to her through direct statements and beautiful expressions.

Conclusion

Overall, the poem uses the imagery of summer, the metaphor of a summer day, various types of rhyme, and syntax to deliver the themes of beauty and love. Initially, only the latter was assumed to be the case, but further analysis uncovered an additional one. However, it is impossible to sing praises to ones beauty without having affection, so in the context of the poem, the two themes appear inseparable. Moreover, the main message, indicated by the standard word order, does not necessarily address the womans appearance, so the narrator may care about her inner beauty, too.