AP Success - AP English Literature: Sonnet 106
When in the chronicle of wasted time I see descriptions of the fairest wights, And beauty making beautiful old rhyme In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights, Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best, Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow, I see their antique pen would have express'd Even such a beauty as you master now. So all their praises are but prophecies Of this our time, all you prefiguring; And, for they look'd but with divining eyes, They had not skill enough your worth to sing: For we, which now behold these present days, Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.
Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time, by William Shakespeare
Question 1
The phrase "chronicle of wasted time" (line 1) most likely refers to:
A journal kept during unproductive periods
A record of historical events perceived as unfruitful
A diary documenting personal failures
An archive of obsolete traditions
Historical records that the speaker believes are irrelevant to the present
Question 2
In lines 2-4, the speaker describes seeing "descriptions of the fairest wights" and "beauty making beautiful old rhyme." This suggests that the speaker is:
Recalling his own past experiences
Reading about historical figures
Critiquing the style of old poetry
Imagining a more beautiful era
Reflecting on the nature of beauty in literature
Question 3
The phrase "Even such a beauty as you master now" (line 8) implies that the speaker:
Believes the addressee possesses unparalleled beauty
Thinks that beauty is a skill to be mastered
Is envious of the addressee's appearance
Is comparing the addressee to historical figures
Feels the addressee's beauty is temporary
Question 4
"So all their praises are but prophecies" (line 9) suggests that the speaker views the past descriptions as:
Accurate predictions of the addressee's qualities
Overly flattering and unrealistic
Insights into future trends in beauty
Misguided attempts to predict the future
Meaningless flattery without substance
Question 5
In lines 10-12, the notion that those in the past "look'd but with divining eyes" and "had not skill enough your worth to sing" implies that the speaker believes:
The addressee's qualities are beyond the comprehension of past poets
The past poets lacked the necessary skills to truly appreciate beauty
Divination was a common practice among poets
The addressee has qualities that transcend time
The past poets were not as visionary as once thought
Question 6
The speaker's attitude toward the past poets and their work, as described in lines 13-14, can best be described as:
Admiration for their foresight
Criticism of their limited perspective
Indifference to their contributions
Respect for their artistic expressions
Skepticism about their significance
Question 7
In the context of the poem, the word "blazon" (line 5) most likely means:
A coat of arms
A proclamation
An artistic depiction
A detailed description
A loud declaration
Question 8
The reference to "ladies dead and lovely knights" (line 4) primarily serves to:
Emphasize the transient nature of beauty
Critique the societal norms of chivalry
Illustrate the timelessness of certain archetypes
Contrast past and present ideals of beauty
Highlight the speaker's interest in medieval literature
Question 9
The mention of "hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow" (line 6) suggests that the speaker is:
Listing the physical attributes admired in the past
Illustrating the completeness of the addressee's beauty
Comparing the addressee to a work of art
Enumerating the qualities that define beauty
Emphasizing the superficial nature of physical beauty
Question 10
The overall tone of the poem can best be described as:
Nostalgic and wistful
Admiring and reverential
Critical and analytical
Sardonic and dismissive
Hopeful and optimistic
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