Stylistics analysis of sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

Abstract

William Shakespeare wrote a total of 154 sonnets known for their remarkable depth and beauty. Among these great literary pieces, Sonnet 18 is one of the most popular. Almost every lover of literature knows the opening line “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” But there is more to Sonnet 18 than just its beautiful poem as shown by this analysis.The style is distinctly Shakespearean where images come alive through the power of The Bard’s verses. The language with its repetitions and rhyme add to the depth, texture and range to the words. The imagery conjured becomes vivid and appealing to the senses. The analysis shows the use of archaic words which gives the sonnet a sense of antiquity and timelessness. The use of these words was done so eloquently and to perfection in form. It’s no wonder that Sonnet 18 has remained popular since the middle ages until today.