Question

Read the first four lines of shakespeare’s "sonnet 71." no longer mourn for me when i am dead than you shall hear the surly sullen bell give warning to the world that i am fled from this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell: now read the first four lines of donne’s "holy sonnet 10." death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; for those, whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow, die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me. the topic that both quatrains have in common is anger. death. music. power.The topic that both quatrains have in common is:

a) Anger.
b) Death.
c) Music.
d) Power.

Answer 1

The quatrains from Shakespeare's "Sonnet 71" and Donne's "Holy Sonnet 10" both deal with the theme of death, each exploring the concept from different perspectives with varying tones. Option b is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The opening lines of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 71" and Donne's "Holy Sonnet 10" both address the theme of death. While Shakespeare's sonnet implores the reader not to mourn after the speaker has died, Donne's poem challenges death's power over humans, implying that it is not as fearsome as one might think. Both poets personify death and explore attitudes towards it, though their approaches and tones differ significantly.

Shakespeare’s sonnet carries an air of somber resignation, as the speaker contemplates joining the "vilest worms" in death. On the other hand, Donne's sonnet is almost confrontational, as it belittles death, emphasizing the power of the human soul and the eternal afterlife where death has no dominion.

These differing tones are further exemplified when comparing with other literary works on death such as Keats' ode, in which death is characterized with a sense of ease and a contemplative approach.

Other works might treat death with a sense of injustice or tragedy, as seen in Sophocles' plays, or with a sense of sacrifice and value, as seen in Wilde's short story.

Death is a multifaceted topic in literature, capturing various human emotions and thoughts on the inevitability and nature of death. In conclusion, the common topic that both quatrains have is death. Therefore, the correct option answer is b) Death.