Question

Sonnet—To Science
Reader
1 Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!

2 Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.

3 Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,

4 Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?

5 How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,

6 Who wouldst not leave him in his wanderin

7 To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,

8 Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?

9 Hast thou not dragged Diana[1] from her car,

10 And driven the Hamadryad[2] from the wood

11 To seek a shelter in some happier star?

12 Hast thou not torn the Naiad[3] from her flood,

13 The Elfin[4] from the green grass, and from me

14 The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree[5]?



[1] Diana: Roman goddess of the moon and hunting.

[2] Hamadryad: A tree nymph from Greek mythology who lives in and is connected to a specific tree.\

[3] Naiad: A Greek water nymph who lives in rivers, streams, and fountains.

[4] Elfin: An elf or fairly-like creature

[5] Tamarind tree: A tropical tree known for it’s fruit; often associated with warm, dreamy landscapes.

Question 16
Bookmark
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A
One theme developed in the poem is that science removes imagination and wonder.

What is another theme developed in this poem?


Science encourages poets to explore new ideas.

Science makes nature safer and more predictable.

Science destroys the meaning of myths and legends.

Science improves creativity through careful observation.
Part B
Which detail from the poem develops both themes in Part A?


"Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art! / Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes." (lines 1-2)

"Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart, / Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?" (lines 3-4)

"How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise, / Who wouldst not leave him in his wanderin" (lines 5-6)

"Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car, / And driven the Hamadryad from the wood" (lines 9-10)

Answer 1

Part A
Science destroys the meaning of myths and legends.

Part B
"Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car, / And driven the Hamadryad from the wood" (lines 9–10).

Explanation: These lines show Science stripping away mythic beings and their roles, which both eliminates imaginative wonder and undermines traditional myths and legends.