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Difficulty: EasyAnalysis of Prescribed Non-African Poems

Read the excerpt below from William Shakespeare's prescribed poem "Sonnet 18":

"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:"

Which figure of speech is used in the phrase "summer's lease"?

  1. MetaphorAnswer
  2. B
    Simile
  3. C
    Oxymoron
  4. D
    Assonance

Answer

The phrase "summer's lease" uses a metaphor by directly comparing the temporary nature of summer to a lease contract without using comparative words like 'like' or 'as'.
The correct answer identifies the figure of speech as a metaphor because 'summer's lease' implicitly compares the brief duration of the summer season to a temporary contractual lease without using 'like' or 'as'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the targeted phrase "summer's lease" within the poetic line.
The word 'lease' refers to a legal agreement granting temporary use of property.
Identifying the literal meaning of 'lease' helps determine how it functions figuratively when applied to 'summer'.
2
Determine the relationship between the term 'summer' and 'lease'.
Summer's duration is described as a 'lease' that expires quickly, creating an implicit comparison.
Understanding the comparison reveals that the poet equates the season's short duration to a fixed term of occupancy.
3
Classify the figure of speech based on standard literary definitions.
Since the comparison is direct and does not use 'like' or 'as', it is a metaphor.
A metaphor equates two unlike things implicitly.

Key Concept

Metaphor in Poetic Diction
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Analysis of Prescribed Non-African Poems

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