Question

In "Sonnet 71," the speaker urges the beloved to forget about him quickly when he dies. He does not like the idea that remembering him could make his beloved sad someday. However, the speaker is still using the poem as a way to be remembered. In "Sonnet 75," the speaker discusses writing his beloved’s name and seeing it washed away. One central idea in the poem is that writing might not last, but love will. This is different from the Shakespearean sonnet, where the speaker wants love to fade so that his beloved will not be sad. What did you discuss in your response? Check all that apply.

a) Central ideas in Sonnet 71
b) Central ideas in Sonnet 75
c) How the speakers view time, love, and memory

Answer 1

The comparison of 'Sonnet 71' and 'Sonnet 75' reveals differing central ideas about the permanence of love and the impact of remembering a loved one after death. Both sonnets discuss the themes of time, love, and memory, each with a distinct perspective on the transient nature of life and written word versus the enduring quality of love. option a is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Sonnet 71, the speaker conveys a central idea that the beloved should forget him to avoid the pain of sorrow after his death. There is a theme of the transience of life and the impact of memory on the living.

Conversely, Sonnet 75 illustrates that while the act of writing may be temporary, as the inscribed name gets washed away, the essence of love remains enduring.

This suggests a different perception of love's permanence compared to the previous sonnet. Additionally, both poems touch upon the aspect of how the speakers view time, love, and memory, which are interconnected with their thoughts on mortality and the lasting influence of their affections and words.