William Shakespeare is the best-known author of the English Renaissance—also known as the Early Modern Period and the Elizabethan Age. Though readers’ attention tends to be more riveted toward his plays, Shakespeare published 154 sonnets during his exceptionally prolific career, in addition to the longer-form poems Venus and Adonis (1593), The Rape of Lucrece (1594), and The Phoenix and the Turtle (1601). Fifteen editions of Venus and Adonis—a poem in the form of 199 six-line stanzas—were published before 1640. The fable draws from Shakespeare’s early education in the classics and shows off his literary ambitions. For The Rape of Lucrece, he went further by composing 1,855 lines in 265 rhyme royal, or seven-line, stanzas.

Shakespeare’s sonnets drew inspiration from the Italian Renaissance poet Petrarch, whose invention of the 14-line poem became the standard sonnet. Like Petrarch’s, Shakespeare’s sonnets usually explored love as the overarching theme; however, the form of Petrarchan versus Shakespearean sonnets differs (further discussed in the Literary Devices section below). Additionally, in Petrarchan sonnets, a young woman (regularly named “Laura” in over 300 of Petrarch’s sonnets) is usually the object of the speaker’s attention.

“Sonnet 18” is likely Shakespeare’s most well-known sonnet; this may have to do with the fact that many of Shakespeare’s love poems were a bit darker, while “Sonnet 18” is lighter and more upbeat. This sonnet is utilized in literature and poetry classes and is often quoted in pop culture—from films to songs.

Poet Biography

Shakespeare is the world’s best-known writer. Often referred to simply as “the Bard,” his plays continue to entertain and audiences still enjoy both his sonnets and long-form poetry.

Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon—a town 100 miles northwest of London. His actual birthdate is unknown, though scholars surmise he was likely born only a few days before his baptism, perhaps on April 23. He was the eldest surviving child of John and Mary Shakespeare. Mary (née Arden) came from a privileged family. John prospered as a leatherworker specializing in gloves. John later entered politics, becoming first an alderman and later, a town bailiff (the equivalent of a present-day mayor).

Due to hailing from such a well-positioned family, Shakespeare—like his contemporary and fellow poet Edmund Spenser—likely attended grammar school where he would have been immersed in a literary education based on the Latin classics. In 1582, at age 18, he married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior; Hathaway was three months pregnant at the time with Susanna, their first child. Susanna’s birth was followed by those of the Shakespeares’ twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, their only son, died in 1596 at age 11. Susanna and Judith grew to adulthood and married well-to-do men—a doctor and a vintner, respectively. Though Susanna had a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1608, the Shakespearean line eventually died out. Thus, there are no living descendants of William Shakespeare.

While Shakespeare’s private and family life existed in Stratford, London was the focal point of his career. By 1592, Shakespeare was a well-known actor and playwright. He became a partner in the theater company the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later renamed the King’s Men). He financially prospered on his increasing fame in the theatrical world and invested his fortune in real estate in Stratford. Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616—the same day of the month on which some scholars believe he was born.

Poem Text

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:

   So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

   So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” The Poetry Foundation.

Summary

In “Sonnet 18,” first-person speaker addresses a beloved, comparing her to summer but elevates her beauty and commends her character as “more temperate” (Line 2) compared to the overwhelming heat of a typical summer day. Unlike the season, which can be fickle, the speaker imagines their love as eternally fair and consistent. He also imagines this will be so long after she is dead.