William Shakespeare is known for his beloved plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, but he actually wrote more poems than plays. “Sonnet 18” is one of the most cited and remembered poems in history. William Shakespeare uses rhyme, personification, metaphor, and tone in "Sonnet 18" to describe his undying love for his wife. One of the most important literary devices of “Sonnet 18” is rhyme. An example of a rhyme scheme in "Sonnet 18" is at the beginning of lines 1-4 of the poem where it says: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Shall I compare you to a summer's day? You are lovelier and more temperate: The strong winds shake the dear buds of May, And the summer's lease is too short in date:...This is an example of an abab rhyme scheme format in which day and may and "a" and temperate and date are "b". This type of writing adds to the theme of the writer's love for his wife. From the connection of these lines he proves his love that she is as beautiful as a summer day. Another example of a rhyme scheme is in lines 5-8 where it says: Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often its golden complexion is dimmed; and each beautiful after another sometimes declines, by chance or by the changing course of nature without being cut;... This shows a cdcd rhyme scheme format where shines and declines is "c" and darkened and uncut is "d" This type of writing shows how one day the light of summer and beauty will fade. Also in “Sonnet 18” another type of rhyme is a couplet. An example of this in "Sonnet 18" in lines 13-14 where he says, "As long as men can breathe or eyes can see, / So long life this and this gives you life." In the couplet “see” and “te” rhyme and give a new meaning to these two lines. These last two lines of the poem give another meaning to the whole poem. They show how as long as people can read this poem, Shakespeare hopes that the poem can keep the memory of his beloved wife alive. The couplet in lines 13-14 is also an example of the personification of literary devices. Personification is used subliminally throughout “Sonnet 18.” The last two lines of the poem are a great example of personification, it says, “As long as men can breathe or eyes can see, / so long life this and this gives you life.” Shakespeare is saying that as long as people can read this poem, he hopes will keep his memory alive. This means giving human characteristics to the whole poem because he wants the poem to keep his wife's memory alive. The next example of personification in this poem is in line 3 where it says "The strong winds shake the dear May blossoms,..." This verse explains how the wind is shaking the beautiful May blossoms. This shows the personification where it states that the winds are shaking the beautiful May flowers. The last example of personification in "Sonnet 18" is in line 11 where it states "Not even Death shall boast to wander in his shadow,..." In this line Shakespeare explains how "Death" will not take her away from him . He doesn't want her to die and is acting as if “Death” is a person and is giving “Death” human characteristics. There's not a lot of personification in "Sonnet 18," but there's not a lot of metaphor. The metaphor is used sparingly in "Sonnet 18." The first example of metaphor in "Sonnet 18" is the very first line where it says, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" Shakespeare wonders whether he should compare his beloved wife to a summer's day. He is comparing his beloved wife to a summer day for her beauty and the beauty of a summer day..
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