Explore Shall I Compare Thee Question Answer: The Ultimate Guide for Class 12 Students (WBCHSE)
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on “Shall I Compare Thee Question Answer.” This article is designed to provide detailed explanations and insights to help students understand and appreciate this beautiful poem. Whether you are in Class 10, Class 12, or pursuing a graduation, you’ll find this guide immensely useful.
The questions have been sourced from previous years’ Higher Secondary examination papers. While the article “Shall I Compare Thee Question Answer” provides answers to these questions, students are encouraged to first write their own responses using the provided PDF. Afterward, they can compare their answers with those in this article and make necessary adjustments.
Table of Contents
Shall I Compare Thee Question Answer
2015
Q. “But thy eternal summer shall not fade.” -Who is the poet? What is meant by “thy eternal summer”? How does the poet suggest that “thy eternal summer” shall never end? 1+1 +4
i) Who is the poet?
The poet is William Shakespeare.
ii) What is meant by “thy eternal summer”?
“Thy eternal summer” refers to the beauty of the person being addressed, which will never diminish.
iii) How does the poet suggest that “thy eternal summer” shall never end?
Shakespeare suggests that the person’s beauty will stay forever young and beautiful because he will immortalize them in his poetry. He promises that as long as there are people alive to read his words, their beauty will live on.
2016
Q. How does Shakespeare compare the beauty of his friend to that of a Summer’s day in Sonnet 18? 6
Ans: In Sonnet 18, Shakespeare initially compares his friend’s beauty to a summer’s day but concludes that the friend’s beauty is more lovely and enduring. While a summer’s day is temporary, subject to rough winds and the fleeting nature of seasons, the friend’s beauty, immortalized in Shakespeare’s poetry, will never fade. The poet believes that as long as people can read his sonnet, the friend’s beauty will live on, defying the passage of time and even death. Thus, Shakespeare elevates his friend’s beauty to a timeless and eternal status through his artful words.
2017
Q. “But thy eternal summer shall not fade/ Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,”- Whose ‘eternal summer’ is being referred to here? What does ‘eternal summer’ mean? What conclusion does the poet draw at the end of the poem? 1 +2+ 3
i) Whose ‘eternal summer’ is being referred to here?
The eternal summer refers to the beauty of the person, whom Shakespeare is addressing.
ii) What does ‘eternal summer’ mean?
‘Eternal summer’ means everlasting beauty and youthfulness.
iii) What conclusion does the poet draw at the end of the poem?
At the end of the poem, Shakespeare concludes that his poetry will ensure that the beauty of the person he’s addressing will live forever, defying the passage of time and even death.
2018
Q. “And every fair from fair sometime declines” From which poem is the line quoted? Who is the poet? Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line. How does the poet promise to immortalize his friend’s beauty? 1+1 +2+2
i) From which poem is the line quoted?
This line is from the poem “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” by William Shakespeare.
ii) Who is the poet?
William Shakespeare is the poet.
iii) Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line.
The line means that everything beautiful eventually fades or loses its charm.
iv) How does the poet promise to immortalize his friend’s beauty?
Shakespeare promises to immortalize his friend’s beauty by writing about it in his poetry. He believes that his verses will preserve their beauty forever.
2019
Q. “But thy eternal summer shall not fade”- Who is being referred to as ‘thy? What is meant by ‘eternal summer’? Why shall not ‘thy eternal summer’ fade? 1+1+4
i) Who is being referred to as ‘thy’?
‘Thy’ refers to the person whom Shakespeare is addressing, praising their eternal beauty.
ii) What is meant by ‘eternal summer’?
‘Eternal summer’ symbolizes timeless beauty and youthfulness.
iii) Why shall not ‘thy eternal summer’ fade?
Shakespeare believes that ‘thy eternal summer’ shall not fade because he will immortalize it in his poetry. His verses will ensure that their beauty remains fresh and everlasting.
2020
Q. What do the rough winds do? What does the poet mean by summer’s lease? How is the friend’s beauty superior to the summer’s day? 1+2+3
i) The rough winds shake the delicate buds of May.
ii) What does the poet mean by summer’s lease?
‘Summer’s lease’ refers to the limited duration of summer.
iii) How is the friend’s beauty superior to the summer’s day?
The friend’s beauty is superior because while summer is fleeting and can be marred by rough winds or dimmed by clouds, the friend’s beauty, immortalized in Shakespeare’s poetry, will last forever without fading.
2021
No exam due to Covid-19
2022
Q. “And every fair from fair sometime declines” – From which poem is the line quoted? Who is the poet? Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line. How does the poet promise to make his friend’s beauty live forever? 1+1+2+2
i) From which poem is the line quoted?
This line is from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
ii) Who is the poet?
The poet is William Shakespeare.
iii) Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line.
The line means that everything beautiful eventually fades or loses its charm over time.
iv) How does the poet promise to make his friend’s beauty live forever?
Shakespeare promises to immortalize his friend’s beauty by writing about it in his poetry. He believes that his verses will preserve their beauty forever.
Or,
Q. “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,/ So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” – What does the poet mean by ‘this’? Who is ‘thee’ being referred to? How does the poet think that ‘this’ will give life to ‘thee’? 1+1+4
i) What does the poet mean by ‘this’?
‘This’ refers to Shakespeare’s poetry.
ii) Who is ‘thee’ being referred to?
‘Thee’ refers to the person whom Shakespeare is addressing, the subject of his poem.
iii) How does the poet think that ‘this’ will give life to ‘thee’?
Shakespeare believes that as long as people can read and appreciate his poetry, the beauty of the person he’s addressing will live on through his verses.
2023
[MCQ] The ‘eye of heaven’ refers to the – (a) sun (b) clouds (c) poet (d) young man.
Ans: (a) sun
[SA1] What do the rough winds do?
Ans: The rough winds shake the darling buds of May.
[SA2] What does the poet compare his friend to?
Ans: The poet compares his friend to a summer’s day.
[LSA] What type of a poem is “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Who is the poet? Whom does the poet speak of? What does the poet say about the person referred to? 1+1+1+3
i) What type of poem is “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
It is a sonnet.
ii) Who is the poet?
The poet is William Shakespeare.
iii) Whom does the poet speak of?
The poet speaks of a beloved person, praising their beauty.
iv) What does the poet say about the person referred to?
The poet compares the person’s beauty to a summer’s day but concludes that their beauty surpasses even that of summer because it will last forever through his poetry.
2024
[MCQ] According to the poet, what has “all too short a date”? (a) Eye of Heaven (b) Darling buds of May (c) Summer’s lease (d) The poet’s friend’s beauty
Ans: (c) Summer’s lease has all too short a date.
[SA1] Who according to the poet is more lovely than a Summer’s day?
Ans: The poet’s friend is more lovely than a summer’s day.
[SA2] What kind of a poem is ‘Shall I Compare Thee to A Summer’s Day’?
Ans: ‘Shall I Compare Thee to A Summer’s Day’ is a sonnet.
[LSA] “And every fair from fair sometimes declines.” – From which poem is the line quoted? Who is the poet? Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line. How does the poet promise to immortalise him? 1+1+2+2
(i) From which poem is the line quoted?
This line is from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
(ii) Who is the poet?
The poet is William Shakespeare.
(iii) Briefly explain the meaning of the quoted line.
The line means that everything beautiful eventually fades or loses its charm over time.
(iv) How does the poet promise to immortalize him?
Shakespeare promises to immortalize his friend’s beauty by writing about it in his poetry. He believes that his verses will preserve their beauty forever.
Additional Resource
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