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In the Sonnet 29 by Shakespeare, does the speaker pity himself over lack of skill as an artist or contentment?
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Here is the "Sonnet 29" by Shakespeare.
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my
outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And
look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich
in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most
enjoy contented least.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the
lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at
heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
The book SAT II Success: Literature which I use to prepare for the SAT exam (a multiple-choice test for high school students in the US) asks the following question about the sonnet:
In lines 4 through 7, the speaker explains that he envies all of the
following aspects of others EXCEPT
(A) hopefulness.
(B) having many friends.
(C) skill as an artist.
(D)
a handsome appearance.
(E) contentment.
In my opinion, choices A, B, and D are definitely present (in phrases "[w]ishing me like to one more rich in hope," "like him with friends possessed," and "[f]eatured like him," respectively).
I also thought that the choice C had been present in the poem in the phrase "[d]esiring this man’s art." This would leave only choice E, contentment.
However, the book says otherwise. Here is an explanation for this question:
The correct answer is (C). This question is best approached by eliminating all the right answers. Check each phrase to see if it is
in the quatrain: hopefulness = “rich in hope,†choice (A); many
friends = “like him with friends possessed,†choice (B); handsome
appearance = “featured like him,†choice (D); and intellectual ability
= “that man’s scope,†choice (E). The phrase that is not in the quatrain is choice (C), skill as an artist, which is the correct
response.
I've checked the analysis of the sonnet on multiple websites, and they had different explanations for the word "scope" in the poem, including "freedom" and "opportunity." However, I see how "scope" can mean intellectual ability: wide range of one's knowledge.
Even so, the book indicates "contentment" in the answer choice E and "intellectual ability" in the answer choice E explanation. I personally cannot see how these can be one and the same thing.
According to the Internet definition:
Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Then, this is not connected to one's intellectual abilities.
Could you help me see how the answer choice C can be correct? I can't be sure if it is some kind of mistake in a book which is why I want to make sure I don't miss or don't understand something. So if there any details that would make choice C sound correct (or "more correct"), please share.
poetry meaning william-shakespeare sat-ii-success-literature
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Here is the "Sonnet 29" by Shakespeare.
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my
outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And
look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich
in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most
enjoy contented least.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the
lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at
heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
The book SAT II Success: Literature which I use to prepare for the SAT exam (a multiple-choice test for high school students in the US) asks the following question about the sonnet:
In lines 4 through 7, the speaker explains that he envies all of the
following aspects of others EXCEPT
(A) hopefulness.
(B) having many friends.
(C) skill as an artist.
(D)
a handsome appearance.
(E) contentment.
In my opinion, choices A, B, and D are definitely present (in phrases "[w]ishing me like to one more rich in hope," "like him with friends possessed," and "[f]eatured like him," respectively).
I also thought that the choice C had been present in the poem in the phrase "[d]esiring this man’s art." This would leave only choice E, contentment.
However, the book says otherwise. Here is an explanation for this question:
The correct answer is (C). This question is best approached by eliminating all the right answers. Check each phrase to see if it is
in the quatrain: hopefulness = “rich in hope,†choice (A); many
friends = “like him with friends possessed,†choice (B); handsome
appearance = “featured like him,†choice (D); and intellectual ability
= “that man’s scope,†choice (E). The phrase that is not in the quatrain is choice (C), skill as an artist, which is the correct
response.
I've checked the analysis of the sonnet on multiple websites, and they had different explanations for the word "scope" in the poem, including "freedom" and "opportunity." However, I see how "scope" can mean intellectual ability: wide range of one's knowledge.
Even so, the book indicates "contentment" in the answer choice E and "intellectual ability" in the answer choice E explanation. I personally cannot see how these can be one and the same thing.
According to the Internet definition:
Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Then, this is not connected to one's intellectual abilities.
Could you help me see how the answer choice C can be correct? I can't be sure if it is some kind of mistake in a book which is why I want to make sure I don't miss or don't understand something. So if there any details that would make choice C sound correct (or "more correct"), please share.
poetry meaning william-shakespeare sat-ii-success-literature
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
2
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Here is the "Sonnet 29" by Shakespeare.
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my
outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And
look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich
in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most
enjoy contented least.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the
lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at
heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
The book SAT II Success: Literature which I use to prepare for the SAT exam (a multiple-choice test for high school students in the US) asks the following question about the sonnet:
In lines 4 through 7, the speaker explains that he envies all of the
following aspects of others EXCEPT
(A) hopefulness.
(B) having many friends.
(C) skill as an artist.
(D)
a handsome appearance.
(E) contentment.
In my opinion, choices A, B, and D are definitely present (in phrases "[w]ishing me like to one more rich in hope," "like him with friends possessed," and "[f]eatured like him," respectively).
I also thought that the choice C had been present in the poem in the phrase "[d]esiring this man’s art." This would leave only choice E, contentment.
However, the book says otherwise. Here is an explanation for this question:
The correct answer is (C). This question is best approached by eliminating all the right answers. Check each phrase to see if it is
in the quatrain: hopefulness = “rich in hope,†choice (A); many
friends = “like him with friends possessed,†choice (B); handsome
appearance = “featured like him,†choice (D); and intellectual ability
= “that man’s scope,†choice (E). The phrase that is not in the quatrain is choice (C), skill as an artist, which is the correct
response.
I've checked the analysis of the sonnet on multiple websites, and they had different explanations for the word "scope" in the poem, including "freedom" and "opportunity." However, I see how "scope" can mean intellectual ability: wide range of one's knowledge.
Even so, the book indicates "contentment" in the answer choice E and "intellectual ability" in the answer choice E explanation. I personally cannot see how these can be one and the same thing.
According to the Internet definition:
Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Then, this is not connected to one's intellectual abilities.
Could you help me see how the answer choice C can be correct? I can't be sure if it is some kind of mistake in a book which is why I want to make sure I don't miss or don't understand something. So if there any details that would make choice C sound correct (or "more correct"), please share.
poetry meaning william-shakespeare sat-ii-success-literature
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
Here is the "Sonnet 29" by Shakespeare.
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my
outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And
look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich
in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most
enjoy contented least.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost
despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the
lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at
heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
The book SAT II Success: Literature which I use to prepare for the SAT exam (a multiple-choice test for high school students in the US) asks the following question about the sonnet:
In lines 4 through 7, the speaker explains that he envies all of the
following aspects of others EXCEPT
(A) hopefulness.
(B) having many friends.
(C) skill as an artist.
(D)
a handsome appearance.
(E) contentment.
In my opinion, choices A, B, and D are definitely present (in phrases "[w]ishing me like to one more rich in hope," "like him with friends possessed," and "[f]eatured like him," respectively).
I also thought that the choice C had been present in the poem in the phrase "[d]esiring this man’s art." This would leave only choice E, contentment.
However, the book says otherwise. Here is an explanation for this question:
The correct answer is (C). This question is best approached by eliminating all the right answers. Check each phrase to see if it is
in the quatrain: hopefulness = “rich in hope,†choice (A); many
friends = “like him with friends possessed,†choice (B); handsome
appearance = “featured like him,†choice (D); and intellectual ability
= “that man’s scope,†choice (E). The phrase that is not in the quatrain is choice (C), skill as an artist, which is the correct
response.
I've checked the analysis of the sonnet on multiple websites, and they had different explanations for the word "scope" in the poem, including "freedom" and "opportunity." However, I see how "scope" can mean intellectual ability: wide range of one's knowledge.
Even so, the book indicates "contentment" in the answer choice E and "intellectual ability" in the answer choice E explanation. I personally cannot see how these can be one and the same thing.
According to the Internet definition:
Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Then, this is not connected to one's intellectual abilities.
Could you help me see how the answer choice C can be correct? I can't be sure if it is some kind of mistake in a book which is why I want to make sure I don't miss or don't understand something. So if there any details that would make choice C sound correct (or "more correct"), please share.
poetry meaning william-shakespeare sat-ii-success-literature
poetry meaning william-shakespeare sat-ii-success-literature
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
edited 2 hours ago
Gareth Rees
4,2911943
4,2911943
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
asked 2 hours ago
Elena Kolumba
1234
1234
2
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago
2
2
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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In the phrase, "this man's art", "art" can mean "skill", "learning", "cunning", "magic" or "artifice". In Shakespeare's time, the word "art" usually refers to capabilities that have nothing to do with art in the present-day sense, so option C is what educationalists would call a "plausible destractor" for people who are not very familiar with Shakespeare's language.
Shakespeare often uses "scope" often in the phrase "give / have scope", meaning "give, have free play, liberty or opportunity" (see A Shakespeare Glossary by C. T. Onions, 1911). In addition, "scope" can also mean "object, aim" or "licence", but I don't think these are the primary meanings in Sonnet 29. I have never seen "scope" in the sense of contentment anywhere in Shakespeare (though, of course, my memory is imperfect).
Contentment is mentioned in line 8 ("With what I most enjoy contented least"), but not in the context of a comparison with another person.
Option C is not correct (for the reasons mentioned above); since "contentment" is not mentioned as something the poet envies in other men, choice E is logically the correct option. I think that SAT question authors mixed something up there.
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
In the phrase, "this man's art", "art" can mean "skill", "learning", "cunning", "magic" or "artifice". In Shakespeare's time, the word "art" usually refers to capabilities that have nothing to do with art in the present-day sense, so option C is what educationalists would call a "plausible destractor" for people who are not very familiar with Shakespeare's language.
Shakespeare often uses "scope" often in the phrase "give / have scope", meaning "give, have free play, liberty or opportunity" (see A Shakespeare Glossary by C. T. Onions, 1911). In addition, "scope" can also mean "object, aim" or "licence", but I don't think these are the primary meanings in Sonnet 29. I have never seen "scope" in the sense of contentment anywhere in Shakespeare (though, of course, my memory is imperfect).
Contentment is mentioned in line 8 ("With what I most enjoy contented least"), but not in the context of a comparison with another person.
Option C is not correct (for the reasons mentioned above); since "contentment" is not mentioned as something the poet envies in other men, choice E is logically the correct option. I think that SAT question authors mixed something up there.
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
In the phrase, "this man's art", "art" can mean "skill", "learning", "cunning", "magic" or "artifice". In Shakespeare's time, the word "art" usually refers to capabilities that have nothing to do with art in the present-day sense, so option C is what educationalists would call a "plausible destractor" for people who are not very familiar with Shakespeare's language.
Shakespeare often uses "scope" often in the phrase "give / have scope", meaning "give, have free play, liberty or opportunity" (see A Shakespeare Glossary by C. T. Onions, 1911). In addition, "scope" can also mean "object, aim" or "licence", but I don't think these are the primary meanings in Sonnet 29. I have never seen "scope" in the sense of contentment anywhere in Shakespeare (though, of course, my memory is imperfect).
Contentment is mentioned in line 8 ("With what I most enjoy contented least"), but not in the context of a comparison with another person.
Option C is not correct (for the reasons mentioned above); since "contentment" is not mentioned as something the poet envies in other men, choice E is logically the correct option. I think that SAT question authors mixed something up there.
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
In the phrase, "this man's art", "art" can mean "skill", "learning", "cunning", "magic" or "artifice". In Shakespeare's time, the word "art" usually refers to capabilities that have nothing to do with art in the present-day sense, so option C is what educationalists would call a "plausible destractor" for people who are not very familiar with Shakespeare's language.
Shakespeare often uses "scope" often in the phrase "give / have scope", meaning "give, have free play, liberty or opportunity" (see A Shakespeare Glossary by C. T. Onions, 1911). In addition, "scope" can also mean "object, aim" or "licence", but I don't think these are the primary meanings in Sonnet 29. I have never seen "scope" in the sense of contentment anywhere in Shakespeare (though, of course, my memory is imperfect).
Contentment is mentioned in line 8 ("With what I most enjoy contented least"), but not in the context of a comparison with another person.
Option C is not correct (for the reasons mentioned above); since "contentment" is not mentioned as something the poet envies in other men, choice E is logically the correct option. I think that SAT question authors mixed something up there.
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
In the phrase, "this man's art", "art" can mean "skill", "learning", "cunning", "magic" or "artifice". In Shakespeare's time, the word "art" usually refers to capabilities that have nothing to do with art in the present-day sense, so option C is what educationalists would call a "plausible destractor" for people who are not very familiar with Shakespeare's language.
Shakespeare often uses "scope" often in the phrase "give / have scope", meaning "give, have free play, liberty or opportunity" (see A Shakespeare Glossary by C. T. Onions, 1911). In addition, "scope" can also mean "object, aim" or "licence", but I don't think these are the primary meanings in Sonnet 29. I have never seen "scope" in the sense of contentment anywhere in Shakespeare (though, of course, my memory is imperfect).
Contentment is mentioned in line 8 ("With what I most enjoy contented least"), but not in the context of a comparison with another person.
Option C is not correct (for the reasons mentioned above); since "contentment" is not mentioned as something the poet envies in other men, choice E is logically the correct option. I think that SAT question authors mixed something up there.
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
answered 1 hour ago
Christophe Strobbe
5,73311041
5,73311041
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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2
After this question and this one it should be clear that SAT II Success: Literature has a few mistakes.
– Gareth Rees
1 hour ago