MB UNIUD

Read the first who lines and the last line of the sonnet.

1. who is the poem addressed to?

      The poem is addressed to death

1. what is the introductory statement? do you find it unusual?

The introductory statement is a ‘consideration' , the poem is speaking to death and he is telling it not to be proud in spite some have called it ‘mighty and dreadful'.

I find it unusual because it's not possible to speak with death.

1. what is the final statement? is it truthful or absurd?

The final statement is a paradox, it is absurd. The poet says :'death, thou shalt die', he says something that couldn't happen, but it is justified by the catholic mentality of that time.

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

A)Here is a list of his arguments; they are in random order. Number them in order they appear in the sonnet and quote the lines.

• a) death falsely believes that it can kill people - line4
• b) death is a pleasurable experience, not a painful one - line6
• c) the best of human kind desire death - line7/8
• d) death has no control over events and people - line9
• e) death has repulsive companions - line10
• f) sleeping potions can make people sleep better than death - line11/12
• g) Christians are promised eternal life - line13

B)Which of the arguments above do you think are offered in a playful tone and cannot be accepted unconditionally?

-death falsely believes that it can kill people

-death has not control over events and people

Focus on the structure of the sonnet and its language.

1) write down the rhyme scheme. Is the structure that of the Italian sonnet or the English sonnet?

The first and the last line don't rhyme.

Rhyme scheme: CBAABC FEDDEF

It is different from the Italian

Answer the questions below without looking back at the two poems.

1. ‘I fix mine eye on thine': who is speaking to whom?

The poet is speaking to his beloved lady

1. ‘my picture drown'd in a...tear': who is crying?why?

      The lady is crying because the poet is leaving her.

1. ‘hadst thou the wicked skill': which word rhymes with ‘skill' and justifies the use of wicked?

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

1. ‘my picture vanish'd, vanish fears': who fears what? How can ‘fears' vanish?

The poet fears his lady, he thinks that leaving her the fear would vanish.