Shakespeare's sonnets 18, 130 and 131. These 3 sonnets have very different messages and display contradicting ideas of love.

Authors Avatar

Marc di-trolio

Pre-1914 Poetry Coursework

Sonnets were originally brought to England, in the 16 centaury, by the Thomas Walt; William Shakespeare then adopted the idea but reinvented the ‘rules’, making way for the ‘English’ sonnet. The ‘English’ sonnet varies from the ‘Italian’ or ‘Petrarchan’ sonnet in that the English sonnet would be made up of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet. In addition to this the rhyming scheme was also changed to conform to the ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG Patten. In the ‘English’ sonnet each line was to be written in ‘iambic pentameter’ which would consist of ten syllables. Sonnets were adopted by William Shakespeare and used so famously that they are often referred to as ‘Shakespearian sonnet’. Sonnets are fourteen line poems which always contain a theme of love. However, how the topic is presented often varies.                                                                                                                                  Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, but possibly the most famous of these is sonnet 18. It begins with a rhetorical question and then goes on to answer the question throughout the poem. In sonnet 18 Shakespeare lists the ways in which a summer’s day is inferior to his ‘lover’. In sonnet 18 the line “summers lease hath too short a date” suggests that the beauty of summer will run out, but his lover’s beauty will live on for eternity. “Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines and often is his gold complexion dimm’d” Shakespeare is trying to relay that summer is inconsistent, unlike his lover. Shakespeare is known for using many poetic devices in this sonnet which is typical in such a love-poem.

Join now!

-“Eye of heaven” –metaphor

Shakespeare uses this metaphor to immortalise his lover and paint him in a heavenly way.

-“His gold complexion dimm’d”-personification

This makes reference to the hot sun which fades his lover’s complexion.

- “and…and…and”- repetition

The repetition engages the reader, and builds suspense.

Shakespeare uses these poetic devices to produce a more vivid image for the reader; it also works to draw attention to certain lines. Sonnet 18 is typical of a sonnet in that it uses poetic imagery, as well as containing a strong theme of nature.

Sonnet 130 varies from sonnet ...

This is a preview of the whole essay