Question

Click to read 'Sonnet 73' by William Shakespeare, then answer the question. Which lines from the poem best support the theme that in old age it is important to be surrounded by the people who love you?

a) Lines 1-4
b) Lines 5-8
c) Lines 9-12
d) Lines 13-14"

Answer 1

The lines from Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 that support the theme of the importance of being surrounded by love in old age are Lines 13-14, which convey the notion that the awareness of life's impermanence intensifies the love and makes it more precious. The correct answer is option d) Lines 13-14"

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to identifying the lines in Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 that resonate with the theme of the necessity for love and companionship in old age. The correct answer is d) Lines 13-14, which read, "This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,/To love that well which thou must leave ere long."

These lines suggest that the awareness of the speaker's impending departure from life intensifies the love the listener holds, emphasizing the importance of treasuring relationships as one faces the end of life. This captures the essential human sentiment that at a time of inevitable loss and decline, the bonds of love become even more precious and significant.

The poem, written in iambic pentameter, adheres to the Shakespearian sonnet form with a rhyming pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and a volta, or a turn in sentiment that typically occurs just before the couplet at the end which delivers the poignant revelation or reflection of the poem.