English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Which trope appears in William Shakespeare's poem "Sonnet 18"?

1. Personification

2. Metaphor

3. Allusion

4. Simile

The correct answer is: Simile

William Shakespeare's poem "Sonnet 18" is well known for its use of extended metaphor, often referred to as a conceit. The comparison of the speaker's love to a summer's day is sustained throughout the poem. Unlike a simile, which uses "like" or "as" to compare two things, a metaphor directly equates the two things being compared. Personification, the attribution of human characteristics to non-human objects, is not present in the poem as the natural elements are not given human qualities. While there may be references to other literary works within "Sonnet 18," this does not constitute the use of allusion, which is a more direct reference to another work. Thus, the correct answer is D Simile.