SONNET 116 POEM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADE 12
SONNET 116: LET ME NOT TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov'd,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.
QUESTIONS
Refer to the poem above and answer the questions below.
Related Items
- Complete the following sentence by using the words provided in the list below.
| Petrarchan; sestet; Elizabethan; Couplet; quatrains; octave |
This is a typical (1.1) ... sonnet because of the three (1.2) ... and the (1.3) ... that rhymes. (3) - Quote a word in the first line which has connotations of love and unity. (1)
- Refer to the following words in line 1 (“... the marriage of true minds”).
To what do these words refer? (2) - Refer to lines 2-4 (“Love is not love ... remover to remove”).
Using your own words, explain the meaning of these lines. (2) - Choose the correct answer to complete the following In line 5, the words “O, no ...” show that the speaker is ...
- uncertain.
- arrogant.
- doubtful.
- convinced. (1)
- Refer to line 7 (“It is the star to every wand’ring bark”).
Give the literal meaning of the underlined words. (1) - Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Quote THREE consecutive words to support your answer.
It is impossible to measure the value of love. (2) - Refer to the following words in line 9 (“Love’s not Time’s fool”). Identify the figure of speech used (1)
- Refer to lines 13 and 14 (“If this be ... man ever loved”).
How does the poet use the last two lines to make his argument on true love convincing? (2) - Do you agree with the speaker’s view of love? Explain your (2) [17]
Note:
- Connotations - words with meanings linked to a key word. For example, the connotations of "morning" are fresh,new,early.
- Consecutive words - words that directly follow after one another.
ANSWERS
- Elizabethan ✓/ quatrains ✓/ couplet ✓ (3)
“marriage” ✓ (1) The union/ joining together ✓ of like-minded people/ people who think the same way/people who have the same values. ✓ (2) True love does not change/ is constant ✓ when circumstances change/ when difficulties arise/ when the people change ✓ (2) D / convinced ✓ (1) A ship that is lost/moving aimlessly or with no direction ✓ (1) True. ✓ “whose worth’s unknown” ✓ (2) Personification [or apostrophe] ✓ (1) If what he says about love is not true, then it is also true that he did not write this poem. However, you are reading what he has written. Therefore, he did write this poem and therefore what he says about love is true. ✓✓ (2) Yes, I agree with the poet that love can last forever. People who really love each other can overcome any problems. ✓✓
OR
No, I disagree/ do not agree with the poet because these days love is superficial and often marriages do not last. ✓✓ (2) [17]
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Hint ; In question 7, one mark will be given if the first part of the answer (true) is correct. To get 2 marks, give the correct answer and quote the correct three words.
Note: When a question asks for your own view or opinion, you must say if you agree or not and then give a reason for your viewpoint to get 2 marks.