Welcome to “Sonnet 116 Workbook Solution: ISC Rhapsody & Prism,” where we delve into the captivating sonnet from the ISC English Literature’s Rhapsody & Prism. Within these pages, we unravel the essence of “Sonnet 116” through meticulous workbook solutions. This post offers comprehensive answers to multiple-choice and contextual questions, deepening your understanding of this timeless work by William Shakespeare. Explore the profound themes of love and constancy as we dissect each line, urging readers to analyze subtle nuances and extract deeper meanings. Contextual inquiries broaden our exploration, encouraging critical engagement with the socio-cultural backdrop and universal themes present in the sonnet. Through this examination, readers sharpen their analytical skills and develop a profound appreciation for literary craftsmanship. Whether you are a student navigating ISC English Literature or an avid reader exploring classic poetry, “ISC Rhapsody & Prism: Sonnet 116 Workbook Solutions” promises invaluable companionship. Join us on this literary journey as we illuminate the path to understanding, one workbook solution at a time.
Table of Contents
Poem Summary :
Poem in Detail
Lines 1 to 4
In the first quatrain, the poem begins by describing that love is the necessary prerequisite for the union, i.e., marriage of two minds, a union that can be realised by the dedicated and faithful. It means that true love proceeds from the unity minds on the highest level of human activity, that it is inherently mental and spiritual. Such love does not allow any obstacle to come in its way. It does not change under changing circumstances and continues even when unreciprocated or betrayed. Further, true love does not depend on the presence of the beloved, but increases during absence as it operates independently of physical reminders. It is a love that fuses spirits intuitively related to each other.
Lines 5 to 8
In the second quatrain, the speaker uses two metaphors to define the character of true love. The speaker compares love to an ever-fixed mark’, the mark being a reference to a sea-mark: a beacon or lighthouse that helps sailors navigate dangerous stretches of coast. This ‘mark’ is ‘ever-fixed’, meaning it does not change, even during the storms. The metaphor of ‘mark’ thus, implies that life is complicated, full of hurdles but mark, i.e., true love helps people to smoothly sail through life.
The speaker then uses the metaphor of a ‘star’ and describes love as the ‘star to every ‘wand’ring bark’. The term bark refers to a small ship and the star is the North Star or the Pole Star. The speaker wants to convey that as a ‘wandering bark’ or a small ship that has lost its way looks to the Pole Star to find its direction, true love serves as a standard for others, maintains its course under stress, and guarantees protection against storms and turmoil and helps to find direction and purpose in life.
By alluding to the ‘star’ as a metaphor for love, the speaker refers to something that is distant and inaccessible and beyond human comprehension: therefore, its ‘worth’ is ‘unknown’. Here, the speaker goes back to the philosophical tradition that dates back to the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, for whom the highest and truest form of love is beyond human understanding. The star, thus, serves as a symbol for a kind of ideal or pure love.
Lines 9 to 12
In the third quatrain, the speaker describes what love is not: it is not affected by time and aging. It remains firm against the ravages of time and transcends such mundane physical characteristic as size, looks and shape. It ignores physical
changes caused by age or health. It is a popular belief that love is rooted in physical attractiveness. But the speaker strongly repudiates this view by personifying time as the Grim Reaper, who with his ‘bending sickle’ mows down ‘rosy lips and cheeks. So, the speaker insists that love is not Time’s fool’ and so does not diminish as physical beauty fades. It not only defies time but everything in its power, including death. Love ‘bears it out’ i.e., perseveres in adversity to the ‘edge of doom’ that is, beyond the grave and the worst phase of time’s decay. So true love operates in the realm of eternity. Not even death can separate true lovers; their union lasts forever.
Lines 13 to 14
The sonnet ends with a couplet that reflects on the views made by the speaker about love and he insists that his ideas about love are indisputable. The speaker then goes on to say that if his views about love and his own behaviour serves as evidence that he is wrong, then he has never written anything and that no one has ever loved.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Who is referred to as ‘me’ in the first line of the sonnet?
(a) True love
(b) The speaker
(c) The reader
(d) The time
Answer :- (b) The speaker
2. Whose marriage is referred by the speaker as the marriage of ‘true minds?
(a) Those who are faithful and devoted to each other
(b) Those who are bound by an agreement.
(c) Those who are bound by secret vows
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (a) Those who are faithful and devoted to each other
3. Which figure of speech is used in the line:
Which alters when it alteration finds
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Alliteration
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (c) Alliteration
4. Who is referred to as ‘it’ when the speaker says, ‘Which alters it alteration finds?
(a) True love
(b) Time
(c) Tempest
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (a) True love
5. According to the first quatrain, which is the essential constituent of true love?
(a) Changing with changed times
(b) Devotion
(c) Marriage
(d) Constancy
Answer :- (d) Constancy
6. According to the speaker, true love continues even when it is
(a) betrayed
(b) unreciprocated
(c) marked by absence of the beloved
(d) All of the above
Answer :- (d) All of the above
7. Which figure of speech is used in the phrase ‘remover to remove?
(a) Simile
(b) Polyptoton
(c) Enjambment
(d) Metaphor
Answer :- (b) Polyptoton
8. What is referred to as ‘an ever-fixed mark’ in the sonnet?
(a) A lighthouse to guide mariners
(b) A fixed spot where lovers meet
(c) A fixed time when lovers meet
(d) None of the above
Answer :- (a) A lighthouse to guide mariners
9. Which figure of speech is used in ‘an ever-fixed mark’ in the sonnet?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Personification
(d) Allusion
Answer :- (b) Metaphor
10. What is referred to as a ‘wand’ring bark’?
(a) A stem of the tree that has lost its roots
(b) A star that has moved away from its orbit
(c) A ship that has lost its way
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (c) A ship that has lost its way
11. Which is the ‘star’ that sailors use to navigate?
(a) Pole star
(b) Sun
(c) Orion
(d) Venus
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
12. According to the speaker in the sonnet, whose worth is unknown?
(a) Fake love
(b) Weak love
(c) Romantic love
(d) Ideal love
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
13. Which figure of speech is used in the line-
Love’s not Time’s fool…..?
(a) Personification
(b) Simile
(c) Metaphor
(d) Hyperbole
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
14. Which of the following is conveyed by the speaker in the third quatrain of Sonnet 116?
(a) Love is not affected by distance
(b) Love is not affected by weather
(c) Love is not affected by time
(d) All of the above
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
15. How is ‘sickle’ used by Time’ in Sonnet 116?
(a) To cut short the time available to lovers
(b) To harvest youthful beauty
(c) To remove all the obstacles
(d) To remove barrier of death
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
16. What does the speaker want to suggest by the phrase to the edge of doom?
(a) True love defies death
(b) True love remains till death
(c) True love never goes beyond death
(d) None of the above
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
17. Which Literary device is used by the speaker in the last two lines of the sonnet?
(a) Hyperbole
(b) Polyptoton
(c) Metonymy
(d) Personification
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
18. Which of the following is personified in the sonnet?
(a) Tempest
(b) Star
(c) Time
(d) None of the above
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
19. Which quality of true love is compared to that of a Pole star?
(a) Its brightness
(b) Its distance
(c) Its worth
(d) Its constancy
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
20. Which of the following statements about Love is NOT true?
(a) Love is perfect and unchanging
(b) Love is susceptible to storms
(c) Love is not susceptible to time
(d) Love is not susceptible to age.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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Complete The Sentences :
1. The speaker does not want to accept any obstacles to the ‘marriage of true minds’ because they are truly devoted and faithful to each other and can overcome any obstacle.
2. The speaker says that love is not love which alters when it alteration finds because true love does not change when it finds changes in the loved one or under changing circumstances.
3. The speaker defines love as an ever-fixed mark because like a sea-mark or a lighhouse that remains fixed and never alters and continues to guide the sailors during the storm, true love remains unalteredand guides the beloved to wade safely through the difficult times.
4. The speaker compares true love to a star that sailors use to navigate because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
5. The speaker says that the value of true love is inestimable because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
6. The speaker feels that true love operates in the realm of eternity because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
7. The speaker says that ‘Love’s not Time’s fool’ because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. “Time’ has been one’s life has been personified as a Grim Reaper because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Short Question Answers :
1. According to the speaker in Sonnet 116, what are the essential elements of true love?
Answer :- In “Sonnet 116,” Shakespeare’s speaker defines true love as constant and unchanging, regardless of external circumstances or the passage of time. True love is described as an “ever-fixed mark” that remains steadfast even in the face of adversity and challenges. It does not “bend with the remover to remove,” implying that genuine love does not falter or fade even if the beloved changes or distances themselves. Furthermore, true love is not susceptible to the effects of time and does not alter as physical beauty and youthful allure diminish. The essence of true love is its unwavering commitment and endurance, serving as a guiding “star” to all souls, which, though its value cannot be measured, leads us through life’s storms. Thus, the essential elements of true love, according to the speaker, are steadfastness, constancy, and an imperviousness to the trials and tribulations of life.
2. What does the speaker want to convey by using the words “the marriage of true minds”? Why does it not ‘admit impediments’?
Answer :- The phrase “the marriage of true minds” in “Sonnet 116” signifies a deep and profound union of two souls who are perfectly aligned in thought and spirit. Shakespeare suggests that true love is a meeting of minds where mutual understanding and commitment are so strong that they form an unbreakable bond. This ideal love does not “admit impediments,” meaning it is not hindered by external obstacles or changes. The speaker implies that true love is unshakeable and cannot be altered or obstructed by any difficulties or imperfections. By emphasizing this concept, Shakespeare underscores that genuine love transcends physical or superficial attributes and is rooted in a deeper, spiritual connection that remains resilient against all challenges. The use of “marriage” metaphorically highlights the idea of a complete and inseparable bond that signifies eternal unity and harmony between two individuals.
3. Why does the speaker feel that love is not love that ‘alters when it alteration finds’?
Answer :- In “Sonnet 116,” the speaker argues that true love is unwavering and does not change when faced with changes in circumstances or in the beloved person. The line “love is not love which alters when it alteration finds” suggests that authentic love is constant and steadfast, regardless of external changes. If love were to alter when the beloved changes, it would imply that the love was conditional and based on superficial attributes rather than a deep, enduring connection. True love, according to the speaker, is defined by its ability to remain firm and unchanging even in the face of alteration, whether it be changes in physical appearance, fortune, or personal circumstances. This steadfastness is what differentiates true love from infatuation or affection that is easily swayed by external factors. Shakespeare thus portrays true love as a profound and unyielding force that endures all changes and challenges.
4. How is true love ‘an ever-fixed mark’?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
5. How has the speaker compared true love to a star?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
6. Which type of love is the speaker alluding to in Sonnet 116, when he says its ‘worth’s unknown’? Why?
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
7. How is true love not ‘Time’s fool’
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Long Question Answers :
1. Discuss Sonnet 116 as a true Shakespearean Sonnet.
Answer :- “Sonnet 116” is an exemplary Shakespearean sonnet, adhering to the traditional structure and thematic elements characteristic of Shakespeare’s poetic form. The sonnet consists of 14 lines, structured into three quatrains and a final rhymed couplet, following the ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme. This format allows for the development of an argument or theme in the quatrains, with a conclusive statement or resolution in the final couplet.
The poem exemplifies the thematic depth typical of Shakespeare’s sonnets, focusing on the nature of true love. Each quatrain delves into different aspects of love’s permanence and resilience. The first quatrain refutes any notion that true love is mutable or fragile. The second and third quatrains employ vivid imagery, comparing true love to a steadfast star and an “ever-fixed mark,” emphasizing its constancy and imperviousness to time and change. The final couplet reinforces the speaker’s assertion, boldly claiming that if this definition of love is proven false, then no man has ever truly loved.
Shakespeare’s use of iambic pentameter throughout the sonnet ensures a rhythmic flow, adding to the poem’s eloquence and emphasizing key themes. The language is both precise and evocative, using metaphors such as a “star to every wandering bark” to convey profound truths about love. Thus, “Sonnet 116” not only adheres to the formal constraints of a Shakespearean sonnet but also encapsulates its thematic essence, exploring the enduring, immutable nature of true love in a manner that remains deeply resonant.
2. What is the central idea of Sonnet 116 as represented through different images?
Answer :- The central idea of “Sonnet 116” is the unwavering and eternal nature of true love, and this is conveyed through a series of powerful and evocative images. Shakespeare illustrates that true love remains constant and unshaken by external changes or challenges, representing it as an unyielding force that endures through time and adversity.
One key image is “the marriage of true minds,” which symbolizes a deep, intellectual, and emotional bond between two people, unaffected by physical changes or external impediments. This phrase underscores that true love is a union of souls rather than mere physical attraction.
Another significant image is the “ever-fixed mark,” akin to a lighthouse or a steadfast landmark that guides and remains visible despite the storms. This metaphor suggests that true love is a reliable and unchanging point of reference that provides direction and comfort in life’s turbulent times.
Shakespeare also compares true love to a “star to every wandering bark” (ship), highlighting its role as a guiding light that is constant and unwavering, even when all else changes. This star, although its “worth’s unknown,” symbolizes the enduring and priceless nature of true love, which cannot be quantified or diminished.
Finally, the poet uses the image of “Time’s sickle” to represent the inevitable passage of time that erodes physical beauty and youth. However, he asserts that true love is not “Time’s fool,” meaning it is not affected by aging or temporal changes. True love transcends the physical realm, remaining immutable and eternal. Through these vivid images, Shakespeare articulates a profound vision of love as an enduring and unassailable force.
3. What are the essential elements of true love as defined in Sonnet 116? Do you agree with all the elements? Give reasons to justify your answer.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
4. The speaker of Sonnet 116 argues that ‘Love’s not Time’s fool.’ What does he mean by this? Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
5. Do you believe that the idea of love as visualized in Sonnet 116 exists in the real world, or is it simply a utopian ideal? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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