Sonnets typically occur in two types of rhyme schemes – in the pattern ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, known as the Petrarchan sonnet, or in the pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, known as the Shakespearian sonnet. Grow’st (V): Short form of the word “growest,” which is, in turn, an older form of the word “grow.” Sonnet 18: Poetic Devices Wand’rest (V): Short form of the word “wanderest,” which is, in turn, an older form of the word “wander.” Ow’st (V): Short form of the word “owest,” which is, in turn, an older form of the word “owe.”īrag (V): Say something in a boastful manner Possession (N): The state of having, owning, or controlling something Thy (Pr): An older form of the word “your.”Įternal (Adj): Lasting or existing forever without endįade (V): Gradually grow faint and disappear Untrimmed (Adj): Not having been trimmed or cutaway Hath (V): An older form of the word “has.”Ĭomplexion (N): The natural color, texture, and appearance of a person’s skin, especially of the faceĭimmed (V): Past participle form of the word “dim,” that is, make or become less bright or distinct.ĭeclines (V): Third person present tense of the word “decline,” that is, (typically of something regarded as good) to become smaller, fewer, or less decrease.Ĭourse (N): The way in which something progresses or develops Lease (N): A contract by which one party conveys land, property, services, etc., to another for a specified time, usually in return for a periodic payment Rough (Adj): (Of weather or the sea) wild and Stormyīuds (N): Plural form of the word “bud,” that is, a compact knob-like growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower, or shoots

Temperate (Adj): Relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures Thou (Pr): An older form of the word “you.”Īrt (V): An older form of the word “are.”

Thee (Pr): An older form of the word “you.” Please note: N= noun, V=verb, Adj=Adjective, Adv=Adverb, P=Preposition, Pr=Pronoun Hence her beauty may not survive, but the praise of that beauty in the poet’s words can never fade away entirely. In this way, future readers of his poetry will know that there was once a beautiful woman who was the poet’s muse and inspiration. That is why the people with whom he speaks in his poetry will also live on. He is confident that his poetry will be read and held in high esteem for many generations to come. The poet knows that there is only one way to become immortal: through the creation of timeless art. And because of that, man’s art will also live on. However, the death of a single man does not spell the death of the species. As a result of the process of aging, this body will die, and decay, for man is mortal. He knows that the individual human body cannot survive the passage of time and eventually fade away. In this sonnet, Shakespeare praises the beauty of his beloved but does so in the service of his poetic craft.

Sonnet 18 by william shakespeare