Question

By It

Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long
To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song.
Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?
Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem
In gentle numbers time so idly spent;
Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem
And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey,
If Time have any wrinkle graven there;
If any, be a satire to decay,
And make Time's spoils despised every where.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;
So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.
"Sonnet 100,"
William Shakespeare
Which summary best captures the central idea of
"Sonnet 100"?
O The speaker wants to spend more time with his
beloved.
O The speaker is mostly angry at his muse for
disappearing.
The speaker hopes that his muse will help him write
a new poem.
O The speaker says that his only care in the world is
youthful beauty.

Answer 1

The summary that best captures the central idea of "Sonnet 100" is: "The speaker hopes that his muse will help him write a new poem."

In "Sonnet 100" by William Shakespeare, the central idea revolves around the speaker's plea to his muse, questioning her prolonged silence and urging her to return to inspire him once more. The speaker personifies the Muse as a source of poetic inspiration, attributing to her the power that fuels his creative expression. The initial lines express a sense of lamentation as the speaker wonders why the Muse has forgotten to inspire him, suggesting a potential diversion of her creative energy towards less significant subjects.

The plea for the Muse's return is rooted in the desire to redeem the time that has been idly spent without her influence. The speaker emphasizes the Muse's role in enhancing his poetic skill and providing meaningful content to his verses. The use of "gentle numbers" implies a hope for a return to more refined and elevated themes.

As the sonnet progresses, the speaker implores the Muse to turn her attention towards the speaker's love interest. He asks her to survey his lover's face and, if there are any signs of aging, to use her poetic power to immortalize the beloved's beauty. The final couplet further accentuates this desire for the Muse's assistance, expressing a wish for the lover's fame to outlast the destructive effects of time.

In summary, "Sonnet 100" portrays the speaker's appeal to his muse to resume inspiring him, particularly in celebrating the enduring beauty of his beloved, thereby creating timeless poetry that transcends the limitations imposed by time and decay.