SHAKESPEAREAN SONNETS
Below is a list of Shakespearean sonnets you can choose from to complete your assessment task.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS FOR THE SONNETS
SONNET 18
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. What does Shakespeare mean when he says, "Thou art more lovely and more temperate.."? ...than what?
3. He uses a metaphor when he writes, "Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines...". What does he mean with these words?
4. In the last two lines (called a couplet) he writes;
"So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."
He is comparing the lives of two things, saying that the life of one of these things ('this') gives 'life to thee'. What two things is he comparing the lives of?
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. What does Shakespeare mean when he says, "Thou art more lovely and more temperate.."? ...than what?
3. He uses a metaphor when he writes, "Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines...". What does he mean with these words?
4. In the last two lines (called a couplet) he writes;
"So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."
He is comparing the lives of two things, saying that the life of one of these things ('this') gives 'life to thee'. What two things is he comparing the lives of?
SONNET 27
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. What does Shakespeare mean when he says, "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed..."?
3. After he goes to bed, he says "then begins a journey in my head, to work my mind", and that his thoughts "intend a zealous pilgrimmage". What does he mean by this?
4. What language technique is used in the following quote? "...my soul's imaginary sight presents thy shadow... like a jewel hung in ghastly night..."
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. What does Shakespeare mean when he says, "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed..."?
3. After he goes to bed, he says "then begins a journey in my head, to work my mind", and that his thoughts "intend a zealous pilgrimmage". What does he mean by this?
4. What language technique is used in the following quote? "...my soul's imaginary sight presents thy shadow... like a jewel hung in ghastly night..."
SONNET 116
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. According to this sonnet, what does Shakespeare think love is?
3. What does he mean when he says love "...bears it out even to the edge of doom."
4. What language technique is used in the following quote? "...[love] looks on tempests..."
1. Find and write the definitions for five words from the sonnet that you don't know.
2. According to this sonnet, what does Shakespeare think love is?
3. What does he mean when he says love "...bears it out even to the edge of doom."
4. What language technique is used in the following quote? "...[love] looks on tempests..."