QUESTION 3: POETRY – CONTEXTUAL QUESTION

Question

QUESTION 3: POETRY – CONTEXTUAL QUESTION

Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
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SONNET 130 – William Shakespeare
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 damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That 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.
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Poetry Foundation. (2024). Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare. [Accessed: 9 August 2024].
3.1 Provide the technical term for the rhythm in Sonnet 130. (1)
3.2 Suggest why the poet uses the word ‘reeks’ in line 8. (2)
3.3 Refer to stanza 3. Explain why the speaker compares his mistress
unfavourably to a goddess (lines 11–12). (2)
3.4 Refer to lines 13–14. Account for the shift in tone in the rhyming couplet. (2)
3.5 What do you think Shakespeare is trying to convey through his rejection
of the traditional sonnet when describing his mistress? (3)
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QUESTION 4: POETRY – CONTEXTUAL QUESTION
Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
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BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH – Emily Dickinson
Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –
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Poetry Foundation. (2024). Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson
[Accessed: 9 August 2024].
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4.1 Refer to stanza 1, lines 1–2. Identify and explain the poetic device in the
context of the poem. (2)
4.2 Refer to stanzas 1–2. Describe the speaker’s relationship with Death.
Quote from the poem to support your answer. (3)
4.3 Refer to stanza 3. Comment on the effectiveness of the image of the
‘Setting Sun’ in line 12.
(2)
4.4 Refer to stanza 6. What does the poet's use of capitalisation in words like
'Centuries' (line 21) and 'Eternity' (line 24) communicate about time and the
afterlife?
(3)
[

Answer 1

Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
2 hours ago

QUESTION 3: POETRY – CONTEXTUAL QUESTION

3.1

Provide the technical term for the rhythm in Sonnet 130.
Answer: Iambic pentameter. (1)

3.2

Suggest why the poet uses the word ‘reeks’ in line 8.
Answer: The use of the word "reeks" suggests an unpleasant odor, thereby emphasizing the unidealized and flawed nature of the mistress. By choosing a word with strong negative connotations, Shakespeare contrasts conventional poetic themes of beauty and fragrance with a more grounded and realistic depiction of his love. (2)

3.3

Refer to stanza 3. Explain why the speaker compares his mistress unfavourably to a goddess (lines 11–12).
Answer: The speaker compares his mistress unfavorably to a goddess to highlight her humanness and earthly qualities. Unlike the idealized and heavenly characteristics traditionally attributed to goddesses, his mistress is relatable and ordinary, emphasizing her authenticity over unattainable perfection. (2)

3.4

Refer to lines 13–14. Account for the shift in tone in the rhyming couplet.
Answer: The shift in tone in the rhyming couplet moves from a negative description of his mistress to a declaration of genuine affection. Despite acknowledging her flaws, the speaker asserts that his love is "as rare" as any false comparisons of beauty, suggesting a deeper appreciation for her true self beyond superficial standards. (2)

3.5

What do you think Shakespeare is trying to convey through his rejection of the traditional sonnet when describing his mistress?
Answer: Shakespeare challenges the conventions of romantic poetry by rejecting idealized comparisons and instead embracing realism in his depiction of love. Through this candid approach, he highlights the authenticity of his feelings rather than upholding superficial societal standards of beauty. His rejection of traditional norms suggests that love is more profound when based on genuine appreciation rather than on exaggerated comparisons. By doing so, he conveys that true affection recognizes imperfections and values the individual for who they truly are. (3)

QUESTION 4: POETRY – CONTEXTUAL QUESTION

4.1

Refer to stanza 1, lines 1–2. Identify and explain the poetic device in the context of the poem.
Answer: The poetic device is personification. Death is depicted as a kind gentleman who stops for the speaker, making the abstract concept of death seem approachable and even courteous. This choice sets a tone of calm acceptance toward death rather than fear. (2)

4.2

Refer to stanzas 1–2. Describe the speaker’s relationship with Death. Quote from the poem to support your answer.
Answer: The speaker's relationship with Death is one of acceptance and tranquility. The speaker describes Death as "kind," which conveys respect and an acknowledgment of Death's inevitability. Moreover, the line "I had put away my labor and my leisure too, For His Civility" shows that the speaker willingly abandons their earthly responsibilities and activities in order to embrace the journey with Death. (3)

4.3

Refer to stanza 3. Comment on the effectiveness of the image of the ‘Setting Sun’ in line 12.
Answer: The image of the "Setting Sun" effectively symbolizes the end of life, suggesting a transition from day to night that mirrors the transition from life to death. This imagery evokes a sense of closure and the natural cycle of life and death, highlighting the inevitability of mortality while encouraging a reflective, peaceful acceptance of this change. (2)

4.4

Refer to stanza 6. What does the poet's use of capitalisation in words like 'Centuries' (line 21) and 'Eternity' (line 24) communicate about time and the afterlife?
Answer: The capitalization of "Centuries" and "Eternity" elevates these concepts, emphasizing their significance and implying a sense of grandeur and timelessness. It suggests that the passage of time is expansive and monumental in the context of the afterlife, where earthly time becomes irrelevant, and one enters a perpetual state of existence beyond mortality. This highlights the contrast between human perceptions of time and the infinite nature of eternity. (3)