SONNET 18

By: William Shakespeare

Direction: Translate each line of William Shakespeare’s most famous
sonnet into modern day English. If you’re unsure of what a line might mean,
make your best guess. Although Shakespeare’s language can be
intimidating in large chunks, when broke down, I think you’ll find that it is
not so scary!
Actual Line Your Modern Translation
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s Shall I compare you to a summer’s
day? day?

Thou art ore lovely and more You are more adorable and moderate.
temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling Harsh winds shake the pretty buds of
buds of May. May.

And summer’s lease hath all too And summer doesn’t last nearly long
short a date. enough.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven Sometimes the sun shines too hot.
shines.

And often is his gold complexion And his golden face is often darkened
dimed. by clouds