Ars Poetica (Macleish) and Sonnet 18 (Shakespeare)

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare and Ars Poetica by Archibald Macleish are both distinctly unique when it comes to style of poetry. One of the biggest differences between the two poems are the rhyme and meter patterns. Shakespeare wrote Sonnet 18 which is, as the title implies, a sonnet, so it has fourteen lines, with four quartets that rhyme (ABAB, CDCD, EFEF) and a rhyming couplet (GG) at the end. Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 also has a iambic pentameter, so ten syllables, per line. However, in Macleish's poem, while he does have consistent sets of couplets throughout Ars Poetica, he does not follow a specific rhyme or meter pattern. In Ars Poetica, some of the couplets feature a rhyme, while others simply do not rhyme. In these two poems, Shakespeare seems to care more for the format of his poetry, while Macleish does not view it as the most important part of his poem, simply bypassing it in order to get his message across. Shakespeare chooses to follow a much more rigid structure in order to communicate, while Macleish chose to create a free form poem.

Although both poems differ vastly in style, they do share similar elements. Both Ars Poetica and Sonnet 18 make frequent use of comparisons. Ars Poetica contains countless similes, and the very premise of Sonnet 18 is comparing (or contrasting) the subject of the poem to summer. Both poems are believe that poetry is timeless or eternal. Ars Poetica, especially through use of the second section where Macleish writes "as the moon climbs," describes poetry as being timeless, and continuing to be relevant even as the moon continues to "climb." In Sonnet 18, Shakespeare writes that his subject will continue to live on, even after death, through his poetry because his poetry is eternal. Both Macleish and Shakespeare see and believe in the power and beauty of poetry, and though their styles differ, both poets respect the art form.