Question

How does the figurative language in these lines develop a theme of the poem?

Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end?
Then soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss
And let that pine to aggravate thy store;
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross;
Within be fed, without be rich no more.

Answer 1

Sonnet 146 discusses the relationship between souls and bodies. It invites the reader to cultivate the soul as opposed to decorating the body. More importantly, it states that worrying about physical beauty can only be done at the expense of the soul. The figurative language of these lines help develop this theme. The speaker addresses the soul and urges it to neglect the body and instead focus on its own enrichment. In these lines, the speaker invites the soul to reach towards heaven (Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross) and ignore other petty preoccupations.

Answer 2

The correct answer for the question that is being presented is this one: "1. It refers to the decomposition of a dead body." The figurative language in these lines develop a theme of the poem by referring to the decomposition of a dead body.

Here are the following choices:
1. It refers to the decomposition of a dead body.
2. It describes the suffering of the soul.
3. It emphasizes the advancement of the soul.
4. It reflects the miseries of the speaker.