What does the poet compare the young person to? - Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day

Q: What does the poet compare the young person to? Identify at least three qualities that make the person superior to the simile.

A: William Shakespeare, in his Sonnet 18, compares his young friend to summer. But he declares that his young friend is superior to summer.

The poet’s friend has some striking qualities. First of all, his friend is more lovely and temperate than summer.

Secondly, summer is not always pleasant. Sometimes it becomes too hot and sometimes it becomes overclouded. The rough west wind destroys the darling buds of May.

Thirdly, the poet’s friend’s beauty is eternal whereas the summer’s beauty is transient since Nature grants summer a short and limited span of life. Hence the summer is subject to chances and changes.

All these qualities of the poet’s friend make him superior to summer.