Sonnet 60

The action of the waves in lines 1-4 is best described as A. an inexorable procession B. a remorseless competition C. a reassuring monotony D. a mysterious transformation E. a confused jumble

A

Which of the following best describes the structure of the poem as a whole? A. Three increasingly ominous representation of a process, followed by an optimistic assertion B. An extended Comparison, in which two concepts are eventually shown to be at odds C. Four contrasting views of an emotion, with no final resolution D. A dispassionate analysis of an event, devoid of personal reference until the final image E. Three différents conceits about the power of an idea, followed by generalization about its ultimate fragility

A

Line 12, "And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow" is best paraphrased as A. nature both exalts and mocks human beings B. everything exists only to be destroyed C. human accomplishments cannot last D. external beauty is fleeting but internal beauty persists E. labor is the only meaningful act of human existence

B

The end rhymes of the poem divide it formally into A. an octave and sestet B. two secrets and a couplet C. three quatrains and a couplet D. an octave and three couplets E. traditional ballad stanzas

C

in line 6, the word "Crawls" serves primarily to A. suggest both the timidity of infants and the feebleness of the aged B. allude to the gradual process by which some individuals arrive at greatness C. evoke both a baby's movements and the idea that in youth the years pass slowly D. exaggerate the difficulties of the long journey from immaturity to maturity E. foreshadow the speaker's long apprenticeship followed by worldly triumph

C

the image of "Crooked eclipses" is most closely linked to which other image in the poem? A. "the pebbles shore" (line 1) B. "sequent toil" (like 4) C. "the main of light" (line 5) D. "beauty's brow" (line 10) E. "natures truth" (line 11)

C

The first twelve lines of the poem primarily focus on the A. fragility of beauty B. painfulness of death C. saving power of poetry D. relentlessness is time E. courage to resist fate

D

The verbs in lines 9-13 "transfix", "delves", "feeds on", and "now" serve to dramatize A. the speakers control over his fate B. the speakers heightened sensitivity C. the speakers despair that his art will not endure D. times absoute control over human life E. times inability to destroy art

D

In context, the phrase "transfix the flourish" (line 9) is best understood to mean A. preserve the growth B. raise the hopes C. satisfy the desires D. thwart the ambition E. finish the vitality

E

In line 5, "Nativity" refers primarily to the A. youth of the speaker B. birth of Jesus C. rising of the Sun D. speakers original home E. earliest stage of life

E

The subject of lines 1-4 is best described as the A. predictability of the tides B. power of natural forces C. necessity of toil D. memories of our youth fading E. minutes of our lives elapsing

E