Question

How does the following example of personification in Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 help to develop a theme of the poem?

"Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."
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1 point
Shakespeare personifies death to remind the reader that time is precious and love won't last forever.
Shakespeare personifies death to remind the reader that he is dying and needs to write about his love now.
Shakespeare personifies death to remind the reader that while all people die, someone's memory can be conserved in poetry forever.
Shakespeare personifies death to remind the reader that death is scary and to preserve beauty you must stay safe.

Answer 1

Shakespeare personifies death to remind the reader that while all people die, someone's memory can be conserved in poetry forever.

This line shows that death cannot claim the beloved because the speaker's "eternal lines" (the poem) will keep the beloved alive for as long as people read it.