University:
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Course:
ENGL 300 | English Language Literature
Academic year:

2023
Views:

416

Pages:

2
Author:

Gerald Huerta

English IV Renaissance Unit: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” (Sonnet 18) Discussion Questions 1. Based on this poem, what does the speaker think about the person the poem is written to? How do you know? The speaker of the poem holds the person it is written to in high regard. The use of romantic language and imagery, such as comparing the person to a summer's day and describing their beauty as eternal, suggests that the speaker admires and cherishes the individual deeply 2. What are the specific points of comparison between “thee” and a summer's day, and how does “thee” rate in the comparison? (Better? Worse? How do you know?) The speaker compares the person to a summer's day by highlighting the flaws and impermanence of the season in contrast to the timeless beauty of the individual. The person ("thee") is portrayed as superior to a summer's day because their beauty will never fade, unlike the fleeting nature of summer 3. Does the poem have a purpose? Does the speaker want something from “thee”? Does he want to say something special to him or her? The poem serves the purpose of immortalizing the beauty of the beloved. The speaker expresses a desire for the person's beauty to be preserved for eternity through the power of poetry. There is a sense of wanting to convey something special and everlasting to the beloved 4. Is this a love poem? If so, to whom? Yes, this is a love poem. It is addressed to someone the speaker deeply admires and loves, as evidenced by the romantic language and the desire to immortalize the person's beauty through poetry 5. Does Shakespeare’s poetry actually make the beloved more "eternal" than summer? Shakespeare's poetry does indeed make the beloved more "eternal" than summer by preserving their beauty in the written word for future generations to admire. While summer eventually fades and ends, the beauty of the beloved remains eternal through the enduring power of poetry 6. Why do you think the speaker chose the season of summer in particular? Why not Fall, Winter, or Spring? How would the poem work with different seasons? The speaker chose the season of summer because it is traditionally associated with warmth, vitality, and abundance. Summer represents the peak of natural beauty and vibrancy, making it a fitting comparison to the beauty of the beloved. Other seasons may not evoke the same sense of flourishing and vitality, thus not lending themselves as well to the comparison 7. Does this poem necessarily keep living so long as humans keep breathing? Is the speaker right? Explain your reasoning. The poem's enduring popularity and timeless themes suggest that it will continue to resonate with readers as long as humanity exists. The speaker's assertion that the beloved's beauty will live on through the poem may be seen as metaphorical, but the sentiment behind it—that love and beauty can transcend time—is enduring and universal. Therefore, the speaker's assertion may indeed be valid, as the poem continues to be appreciated and cherished by readers across generations