SONNET XV

ex. 1

a. The poet observes that the highest point of excellence in all living things lasts for a very short time TRUE

b. The poet thinks that the stars have no effect on the world FALSE

c. The poet realises that the sky can infuence the only plant's growth FALSE

d. Men go through the same stages: youth, decline and death TRUE

e. Time and Decay are at war over the poet's beloved because they have different aims FALSE

f. The poet, counteracting the action of time, gives new life to his beloved through poetry TRUE

ex. 2

a. 

INITIAL WORD 

stanza 1: when

stanza 2: when

WHAT THE POET ("I") DOES

stanza 1: consider

stanza 2: perceive

THE PBJECT OF HIS CONSIDERATION 

stanza 1: everything that grows

stanza 2: that men as plants increase

b. The function of the stars is tho one influencing the fate of all living beings ("everything that grows") in secret. The function of the sky is of encouraging and, at the same time, obstruct men and plants.

c. In the first stanza, the world and life are mentioned through the metafore of "theatre", the world is a huge stage while uor lives are the shows we perform on that stage. This gives an idea of the deluded view us human beings have of life. 

ex. 3

a. The linker that introduces the third stanza is "THEN" which helps to express what happens after the highest point of excellence of all living things.

b.