Question

In Sonnet 18, Shakespeare wrote, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more *temperate*." Which of the following is the definition for the underlined word?

a. modest
b. conservative
c. agreeable
d. immoderate

Answer 1

Option (c), In Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, the word "temperate" signifies being agreeable, indicating the subject's balanced and pleasing nature.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare, the word "temperate" is used to describe the subject of the poem in a way that emphasizes balance and moderation, in contrast to the extreme conditions sometimes associated with summer. The correct definition of "temperate" in this context is 'c. agreeable.' This aptly conveys that the subject's beauty and temperament are gentle and pleasing, unlike the sometimes harsh and fluctuating weather of a summer's day.