Question

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100."

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.
What is the central idea of the sonnet?
The speaker considers his love to be his muse.
The speaker wants his muse to help him
immortalize his love.
O The speaker fears that his love is growing old faster
than he would like.
O The speaker thinks that his muse is forgetful and
lazy and wastes a lot of time.

Answer 1

The central idea of Shakespeare's Sonnet 100 is the poet’s self-reflective criticism of his Muse's lack of inspiration, which inhibits his ability to write poetically about his beloved and the world, exploring deeper themes of artistry and creative expression.

The central idea of Shakespeare's Sonnet 100 is a reflection on the poet's failure to immortalize his beloved or to write about the wonders of the world due to a lack of inspiration. Shakespeare is essentially reprimanding his own Muse for not inspiring him enough to write. The sonnet delves into themes related to the creative process, the role of the poet, and the power of poetry to confer immortality. It examines why the speaker has been silent and encourages the Muse to provide inspiration, not only to praise the beloved but also to breathe life into his verse.

As a Shakespearian sonnet, it adheres to the structure of an octet and a sextet, following the rhyme scheme A B A B-C D C D-E F E F-G G and is composed in iambic pentameter. The transition in thought or the volta typically occurs between lines eight and nine or between lines twelve and thirteen, indicating a shift in the sonnet's argument or emotion.

The theme of this sonnet, like many of Shakespeare's sonnets, goes beyond a simple expression of unrequited love and instead uses this as a vehicle to explore deeper issues such as the essence of artistic inspiration and the poet's frustration with his own creative limitations.

The probable question may be: "Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100."

What is the central idea of the Sonnet100?"