WAEC Literature in English 2019 Theory — Question 27

Model answer

Points to develop: Statement of the theme; Summer's inherent qualities; Defects of summer in comparison; Juxtaposition of a summer's day and lover's beauty; Consequences of summer's defects. The poem 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?' by William Shakespeare centres on the appreciation of a loved one. The poet compares his lover to a summer's day and concludes that his lover's beauty is beyond compare. Her beauty is eternal and immortal. This is captured in the last two lines that sum up the poem: 'So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see / So long lives this and this gives life to thee.' The poet highlights the inherent qualities of summer. It is moderate; it is temperate and it produces the 'darling buds of May'. By comparison, his lover is more temperate and more moderate. This is captured in the expression: 'Thou art more lovely and more temperate.' The poet also highlights summer's defects. Summer has its own defects which by comparison the poet's lover does not have. It is less lovely; it is less moderate; it is short lived; it is subjected to rough winds: 'Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May/ And summer's lease hath all too short a date.' Summer is sometimes too hot and it is subject to change and shortly passes away. This is captured in the expression: 'Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines/ And often in his gold complexion dimmed/ And every fair from fair sometime declines'. In comparison and juxtaposition the lover's beauty is unparalleled. She is more temperate and she is not subject to defects and juxtaposition the lover's beauty is unparalleled. She is more temperate and she is not subject to defects to which summer's day is prone to. Summer is not permanent but her 'eternal summer shall not fade'. She shall be forever appreciated so far the artistic piece (poem) that documents her beauty is being read.