In poetry, the term speaker refers to the

A

main character.

B

narrator.

C

poet.

D

reader.

2

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What is a couplet, in the context of a Shakespearean sonnet?

A

the final two lines

B

any two lines that rhyme

C

two adjacent syllables in which the first syllable is stressed

D

two adjacent syllables in which the second syllable is stressed

3

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130.”My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red, than her lips red:If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak, yet well I knowThat music hath a far more pleasing sound:I grant I never saw a goddess go,—My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare,As any she belied with false compare.

A

The three quatrains satirize common poetic comparisons of one’s beloved to beautiful things, suggesting that the speaker’s feelings are not strong. However, the sudden reversal in tone in the final couplet surprises and moves through its sincerity and depth of feeling, suggesting strong emotions.

B

The speaker ridicules his mistress through his negative comparisons of her to idealized objects in the first 12 lines, which implies that he has lost interest in her. In the final couplet, though, he humorously reverses his tone and exaggerates her charms, from which readers can infer that he is being playful rather than hurtful.

C

Some readers believe that the speaker uses satire to ridicule his mistress. Others find that his tone remains affectionate even while he speaks of her hair being “black wires,” her breath reeking, or her feet mundanely treading the ground.

D

The humorous tone in the first two quatrains show that the speaker does not take love seriously. However, in the third quatrain, he speaks of loving his mistress’s voice and that she moves as he imagines a goddess would; this shows that he is serious about love after all.

4

Read these lines from Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100.”Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey,If Time have any wrinkle graven there;If any, be a satire to decay,And make Time's spoils despised every where.Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.

A

carved

B

removed

C

hating

D

decaying

5

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130.”My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red, than her lips red:If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,5But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak, yet well I knowThat music hath a far more pleasing sound:10I grant I never saw a goddess go,—My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare,As any she belied with false compare.

A

She has trouble walking on the ground.

B

When she walks, she leaves footprints.

C

Like everyone, she walks on the ground.

D

She cannot be compared to other standards.

6

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100.”Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so longTo speak of that which gives thee all thy might?Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeemIn gentle numbers time so idly spent;Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteemAnd gives thy pen both skill and argument.Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey,If Time have any wrinkle graven there;If any, be a satire to decay,And make Time's spoils despised every where.Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.

A

abab

B

abcb

C

cdcd

D

efef

7

What is the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet?

A

A Shakespearean sonnet has 16 lines and begins with a couplet.

B

A Shakespearean sonnet consists of four quatrains and ends with a couplet.

C

A Shakespearean sonnet has three quatrains and begins with a couplet.

D

A Shakespearean sonnet has three quatrains and ends with a couplet.

8

In the context of poetry, what is the best definition of tone?

A

the reader’s response to the emotions in the poem

B

the speaker’s attitude toward the subject of the poem

C

the use of alliteration, repetition, rhythm, and rhyme

D

the use of words that sound like the things they denote

9

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100.”Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so longTo speak of that which gives thee all thy might?Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeemIn gentle numbers time so idly spent;Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteemAnd gives thy pen both skill and argument.Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey,If Time have any wrinkle graven there;If any, be a satire to decay,And make Time's spoils despised every where.Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.

A

The speaker considers his love to be his muse.

B

The speaker wants his muse to help him immortalize his love.

C

The speaker fears that his love is growing old faster than he would like.

D

The speaker thinks that his muse is forgetful and lazy and wastes a lot of time.

10

How many lines are in a Shakespearian sonnet?

A

12

B

14

C

16

D

22

Analyzing Different Interpretations of a Sonnet Answers

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