‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’ by William

Shakespeare – Questions and Answers(S.A.Q.), Class

12, WBCHSE
4 Comments / Poem / By Arun Sir

1)What kind of poem is ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’? [H.S. = 2019 & 2022]

Ans. ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’ is a sonnet.

2)What is the structure of the poem ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’?

Ans. The sonnet ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’ consists of three quatrains with a
concluding couplet.

3)To whom is the sonnet addressed?

Ans. The sonnet is addressed to Henry Wriothesly, earl of Southampton or William Herbert, earl of
Pembroke.

4)With what does Shakespeare wish to compare his friend in the sonnet ‘Shall I Compare
Thee to a Summer’s Day’?

Ans. In the sonnet ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’, Shakespeare wishes to compare his
friend to a summer’s day.

5)Why didn’t the poet want to compare his friend to a summer’s day?

Ans. The poet did not want to compare his friend to a summer’s day because his friend is more
lovely and more temperate than a summer’s day.

6)In which month can the ‘darling buds’ be seen? [H.S. = 2020]

Ans. The ‘darling buds’ can be seen in May.

7)What do the rough winds do in summer?

Ans. Rough winds shake the darling buds of summer.

8) ‘And Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.’ – what is meant by ‘summer’s lease’? [H.S.
= 2016]
Ans. ‘Summer’s lease’ means the duration of summer.

9)What are the disadvantages of the summer’s day mentioned in Sonnet No. 18?

Ans. Summer is short in duration and the winds destroy the darling buds.

10)What does ‘eye of heaven’ refer to? [H.S. = 2017 & 2022]

Ans. ‘Eye of heaven’ refers to the sun.

11)How is the ‘gold complexion’ of the sun dimmed? [H.S. = 2016]

Ans. The ‘gold complexion’ of the sun is dimmed by the clouds.

12)How does ‘every fair from fair’ decline?

Or. What does the line “Ans every fair from fair sometimes decline” mean? [H.S. = 2020]

Ans. ‘Every fair from fair’ declines by nature’s changing course.

13)What do you mean by the phrase ‘fair from fair’?

Ans. The phrase ‘fair from fair’ means the beautiful objects of nature.

14)What do you mean by the phrase ‘nature’s changing course’?

Ans. The phrase, ‘ nature’s changing course’ means natural destruction and decay with the passage
of time.

15) “But thy eternal summer shall not fade.” – What do you mean by the phrase ‘thy eternal
summer’?

Ans. The phrase, ‘thy eternal summer’ means the everlasting youthfulness and beauty of the poet’s
friend.

16)What shall death not brag about in Shakespeare’s sonnet No. 18? [H.S. = 2015, 2019 &
2022]

Ans. Death shall not brag to the poet’s friend to wonder in his shade.

17) “Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade.” – What does the poet mean by the
phrase ‘his shade’?

Ans. By the phrase, ‘his shade’, the poet means the shadow of death.

18) What will make the beauty of the poet’s friend eternal? [H.S. = 2015]

Ans. The immortal lines of the sonnet will make the beauty of the poet’s friend eternal.

19) “When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st.” – What do you mean by the ‘eternal lines’?

Ans. The ‘eternal lines’ are the eternal verses in the form of sonnet.
 20)How long will the young man be remembered in Shakespeare’s sonnet No. 18? [H.S. =
2018 & 2022]

Ans. The young man will be remembered so long as men can breathe or eyes can see.

21) “So long times this.” – What is referred to by the word ‘this’? [H.S. = 2017]

Ans. ‘This’ refers to the sonnet of Shakespeare.

22)What gives life to the poet’s friend in sonnet No. 18?

Ans. The sonnet written by William Shakespeare gives life to his friend.

Read more about:

∎ ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ by William Shakespeare – Questions and
Answers(L.A.Q.), Class 12, WBCHSE

∎ ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’ by Shakespeare – Questions and Answers(M.C.Q.),

Class 12, WBCHSE

∎ Poetry – M.C.Q. from the previous year H.S. Exams, Class 12, WBCCHSE

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4 thoughts on “‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day’ by William

Shakespeare – Questions and Answers(S.A.Q.), Class 12, WBCHSE”

SAYAN
05/03/2021 AT 12:48 PM

Wow sir it’s really standard note

Reply