Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 10, 2025

Summary:

“Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, celebrating the eternal beauty of the poet’s beloved. The speaker begins by questioning whether he should compare the beloved to a summer’s day but immediately asserts that they are “more lovely and more temperate.” Unlike summer, which is often unpredictable with rough winds and fading beauty, the beloved’s beauty is everlasting. Shakespeare uses the power of poetry to grant immortality to the beloved, stating that their charm will never fade because it is preserved in verse. The poem concludes with the idea that as long as people read this poem, the beloved’s beauty will live on forever. This sonnet emphasizes themes of love, beauty, and the timeless nature of poetry.
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day
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1. : What is the theme of “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?”





2. : How does the poet compare his beloved to a summer’s day?





3. : What makes the beloved superior to a summer’s day?





4. : What literary device is used in the line “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May”?





5. : How does Shakespeare claim to immortalize his beloved?





6. : What does “Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest” mean?





7. : What is the final message of the poem?





8. : What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?





 
Question Answer
Poem Name Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?
Poet William Shakespeare
Year Written Early 1600s
Year Published 1609
Poem Type Sonnet (Shakespearean Sonnet)
Themes Love, Beauty, Immortality through Poetry
Rhyme Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Main Literary Devices Metaphor, Personification, Imagery, Alliteration
Famous Line “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
Key Message Poetry immortalizes beauty and love beyond time
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