An Analysis of the Rhetorical Devices in Sonnet 18
   
Abstract
  Sonnet 18 is regarded as one of the most famous sonnets of Shakespeare.As is known to all,Shakespeare is skilled in many poetic forms and a great master of the English language.This poem reveals that the beauty of nature is transient and the art is immortal in the poem in particular .
This thesis mainly discusses the usage of different kinds rhetorical devices in three chapters.And the first part shows the usage of phonetic rhetorical devices which adds more beauty to the tonality of the poem.And the second part reveals the beauty and lovely of the young man and the decline of beauty from time to time by using the syntactical rhetorical devices.Finally,the poet uses lexical rhetorical devices to express the inner thought of the poet .With the help of the analysis and examples of the rhetorical devices , this thesis aims at making the readers know the figures of speech and their functions well.
Key Words: figures of speech  Shakespeare  immortal  analysis  functions
Introduction
Shakespeare has been universally acknowledged to be the summit of the English renaissance and one of the greatest writers in the world .Sonnet 18 is seen as one of the most wonderful sonnet It is helpful to us to learn the rhetorical devices of the poem.For instance,we can widen our horizon and cultivate our taste by learning this poem.Since language is the carrier of thoughts,it is vital to make a detailed research on the language features .That's why this thesis will attach much importance to the rhetorical devices of sonnet 18 and take it as the research motives.
Sonnet 18 is one of the most wonderful poets.In this sonnet,Shakespeare speaks highly of a noble youth's beauty.Shakespeare compares the young man to "a summer's day",which brings us the image of zeal and enthusiasm.In sonnet 18,summer is a beautiful season,so is the young man .In addition ,the man who is depicted by him is even more lovely and temperate .And the whole poem reveals that every beauty will lose except the young man .
Even the morality of life is inevitable ,however,his lover is eternal in this poem. 
Sonnet 18 has great significance.So we should pay much attention to the works which has been studied on this poem in the past for the sake of knowing more about the issues .
In A Short History of English Literature published in 2006,it studies the theme of the poem.He says "number 18—126 are a variety of themes associated with a handsome young man (who is presumably ,but not necessarily,the yong of 1 to 17)"(Liu Bingshan 2006:91) in his book.The poet enjoys his friendship and is full of admiration promising to bestow immortality on the young man by the poems he writes in his humour ".In this poem, we know that the themes gives place to the idea that the beloves youth will suivive through the poet's poem.
A comparative study of Shakespeare's Sonnets 18 shows that the sonnets of Shakespeare makes a peak and enjoys lofty status .There are also some scholars inland trying to translate his sonnets.His paper studies "three Chinese versions of the sonnet 18 of Shakespeare at the three levels of beauty of meaning,sound and form"( Cai Lei 2011）in hi
s periodical.He draws the conclusion that three translations have different qualities and none is perfect.To a large extent,the effective combination of three beauty is needed in order to realize the entire beauty of poetry.
An Appreciation of Rhetorical Devices reveals that "Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest playwright in the world and his works are influential in English literature.He has been alse given the highest praise by various critics "(Chao Dingjiang 2002) in his periodical.His paper is filled with various kinds of figues of speech which show Shakespere's fruitful imagination.What's more, he gives a brief comment on them in order to have an appreciation together with readers.
In “The English Poetry’s Translation Methods”, she points out that “Shakespeare’s sonnets are unique for their pentameter iambic”(He Lingjing 2010), and it means we can't deny the significance of rhythm and rhyme in the process of English verse translation.
  The paper Metaphor's in sonnets Shakespeare's sonnets studies this poem from the view of aesthetic value of Shakespeare's plays and the metaphor's in sonnets.To make the study
more distinct ,there are several tables appearing in this thesis to summarize different metaphor expressions.He says that "nearly 4 metaphors in one sonnet on average"(Wang Lu 2011)in her doctoral thesis.The metaphor mainly about"love","human being","life" and "beauty"and"time".In addition,he also finds that Shakespeare likes to use "metaphor groups".
    After a detailed study of the related materials on sonnet 18,an analysis of rhetoric devices in sonnet 18 is necessary.
.  Phonetic rhetorical devices in Sonnet 18
  Phonetic rhetorical devices is a characteristic of literature,especially in poetry.It consists of alliteration,assonance and consonance,etc.All of them can be easily find in this poem.
1.1  Use of Alliterationreaction paper to metaphor
  Alliteration refers to the repetition of initinal constanant sounds in each verse line .And we usually we find two alliterating words in the first half-line and one in the second half-line or
vise versa.In this poem,we may easily find some examples.
"Do"and"daring" in the third line,"chance" and "changing" in the eighth,"fair from fair" in the seventh line are the examples.
1.2  Use of Assonance
The use of the same vowel sound with different consonants or the same consonant with different vowels in successive words or stressed syllables, as in a line of verse.

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