Question

Read "Sonnet 43" by William Shakespeare. Then, answer the question that follows.

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

How does the form of the sonnet impact the meaning of Shakespeare's poem?

Repetition of the same lines throughout emphasizes the point that the speaker likes to sit in the dark and see their shadow.
Six stanzas break the sonnet into six different hours of the day and how the speaker feels about each.
There is no rhyme scheme or meter, which makes the poem seem like an informational paragraph about sleeping.
The shift and the couplet explain that even on the darkest days, the speaker looks forward to seeing someone in their dreams at night.

Answer 1

Answer: The form of the sonnet impacts the meaning of Shakespeare's poem in D) The shift and the couplet explain that even on the darkest days, the speaker looks forward to seeing someone in their dreams at night. The sonnet has a typical Shakespearean rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) and iambic pentameter, which adds to the musicality and structure of the poem. The volta, or shift, in the poem occurs in the third quatrain, where the speaker expresses their desire to see the person they dream of in real life, during the "living day." The couplet serves as a summary and resolution to the preceding stanzas, emphasizing the power of the person's presence to transform the speaker's experience of day and night. Overall, the form of the sonnet enhances the emotional impact and coherence of the speaker's message about love and longing.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

The form of the sonnet impacts the meaning of Shakespeare's poem in D) The shift and the couplet explain that even on the darkest days, the speaker looks forward to seeing someone in their dreams at night. The sonnet has a typical Shakespearean rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) and iambic pentameter, which adds to the musicality and structure of the poem. The volta, or shift, in the poem occurs in the third quatrain, where the speaker expresses their desire to see the person they dream of in real life, during the "living day." The couplet serves as a summary and resolution to the preceding stanzas, emphasizing the power of the person's presence to transform the speaker's experience of day and night. Overall, the form of the sonnet enhances the emotional impact and coherence of the speaker's message about love and longing.