MB UNIUD

Exercise 1: Read the first two lines and the last line of the sonnet.

a) Who is the poem addressed to?

It is addressed to Death.

b) Who is the introductory statement? Do you find it unusual?

The introductory statement tells about the uselessness of Death pride (Death, be not proud, though some have called thee). I think it is unusual, because men usually are afraid to death, because they considered it superior compared to their life.

c) What is the final statement? Is it truthful or absurd?

The final statement tells about the limit of death (And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die). If you consider the Christian religion, it is truthful, because it believes in eternal life.

Exercise 2: Consider how the poet sets out to prove the unimportance of death.

• a) Death has no control over events and people (lines 1-2)
• b) Death falsely believes that it can kill people (lines 3-4)
• c) Death is a pleasurable experience, not a painful one (lines 5-6)
• d) The best of human kind desire death (lines 7-8)
• e) Death has repulsive companions (lines 9-10)
• f) Sleeping potions can make people sleep better than death (line 11)
• g) Christians are promised eternal life (lines 12-13)

Exercise 3: Focus on the structure of the sonnet and its language.

a) Write down the rhyme scheme. Is the structure that of the Italian sonnet or of the English sonnet?

The structure is that of the English sonnet. It is a Elizabethan structure.

Exercise 4: Answer the questions below without looking back at the two poems.

a) I fixe mine eye on thine: Who is speaking to whom?

A man is speaking to his lover.

b) My picture drown'd in a ... teare: Who is crying? Why?

The lady is crying, because her lover is leaving her.

c) Hadst thou the wicked skill: Which word rhymes with skill and justifies the use of wicked?

The word skill rhymes with kill and it justifies the use of wicked.

d) My picture vanish'd, vanish feares: Who fears what? How can feares vanish?

The man is afraid to the image thet his lady has about him. Fear can vanish if the lady stops to cry.

e) Though thou retaine of mee one picture more: Is the picture tangible? Where does it lie?

The picture isn't tangible, because it lies in the lady's heart.

f) Die not, poor Death: Who won't die?

Death won't die.

g) With tee do go: Who goes with Death?

 The best men goes with Death.

h) One short sleep past: What happens afterwards?

Afterwards men wake up eternally.