Figurative language and Theme in Shakespeare’ Sonnet XVIII

Fidely Medelyn Sianipar

180410200073
Kelas D

I want to explain Shakespeare’ Sonnet XVIII by shakespeare. Specifically, I plan to explain the
theme of this poem. I will map several uses of figurative language that support the theme of this
poem. I want to prove that Sonnet XVIII’s theme is not what James Boyd-White called a “self
glorification” poem, not a love poem. ‘This famous sonnet is on this view one long exercise in
self-glorification, not a love poem at all; surely not suitable for earnest recitation at a wedding
or anniversary party, or in a Valentine’ (Boyd-White, 2000). Self-glorification is an act of
praising oneself. Meanwhile, Sonnet XVII is also about the value and power of the poem.
Additionally, I want to prove that Sonnet XVII’s theme is not only about love.

In the beginning of the poem, Shakespeare uses personification in ‘a summer’s day’(line 1), he
compares ‘thee’ to something that is generally viewed as beautiful things. in the next line ‘thee’
beauty exceeds ‘a summer’s day’, this example trying to describe the beauty of ‘thee’ and
another proof is in ‘By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd’ (line 8) and ‘thy eternal
summer shall not fade’ (line 9) shows that unlike summer, In the long run, they will remain the
same. This poem responds to such joy and beauty by making certain that his loved one is
forever cherished even when the season has changed. This example shows that Sonnet XVIII is
a love poem even though the object is not described in detail. It is still suitable for earnest
recitation. Other than love, in ‘so long as men can breathe or eyes can see’ (line 13) and ‘So
long loves this, and this gives life to thee’ (line 14) it uses simile and apostrophe to address that
as long as human still live, his poem too will live on, this shows the power of the poem or
eternal life of the poem.

Therefore, Sonnet 18 can be viewed as a tribute to both the speaker's beloved as well as to
poetry itself. These are only a slight figurative language that shows the theme of Sonnet XVII. I
will give more examples in the actual essay.

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Reference
Boyd-White, James (2000). The Desire for Meaning in Law and Literature. Current Legal
Problems. Volume 53. Ed. M. Freeman. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mazany, M. (2014). A Structural Analysis Of William Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVIII. Central
Library of Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University of Malang.

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