Sonnet 26 by William Shakespeare Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
Q: Who is the author of “Sonnet 26”?
A: The author of “Sonnet 26” is William Shakespeare.
Q: What is the form of “Sonnet 26”?
A: “Sonnet 26” is a sonnet, a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.
Q: Who is the speaker in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker in “Sonnet 26” is a character created by Shakespeare who is deeply in love.
Q: What is the setting of “Sonnet 26”?
A: The setting of “Sonnet 26” is not explicitly stated, focusing more on the speaker’s inner feelings and thoughts.
Q: What is the main theme of “Sonnet 26”?
A: The main theme of “Sonnet 26” is love and duty.
Q: What is the plot of “Sonnet 26”?
A: “Sonnet 26” presents the speaker’s feelings of love and duty towards their beloved.
Q: What is the tone of “Sonnet 26”?
A: The tone of “Sonnet 26” is humble and hopeful.
Q: What style is used in “Sonnet 26”?
A: “Sonnet 26” uses various poetic devices such as metaphor, personification, alliteration, and hyperbole.
Q: What is the message of “Sonnet 26”?
A: The message of “Sonnet 26” is about the vulnerability and hope inherent in love.
Q: How does the speaker express their love in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker expresses their love through a sense of duty and devotion to their beloved.
Q: What does the speaker send to their beloved in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker sends a written message or “embassage” to their beloved.
Q: What does the speaker hope for in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker hopes for understanding and reciprocation from their beloved.
Q: What sign is the speaker waiting for in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker is waiting for a “star” to guide them, symbolizing a sign of their beloved’s love.
Q: What will this sign do for the speaker’s love in “Sonnet 26”?
A: This sign will “put apparel” on their love, meaning it will validate and give form to their love.
Q: When will the speaker dare to express their love in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker will dare to express their love when they feel they have earned their beloved’s respect.
Q: What does the “head” represent in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “head” represents the speaker’s presence or visibility.
Q: What does the “star” represent in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “star” represents a sign or guidance from the beloved.
Q: What does “vassalage” symbolize in “Sonnet 26”?
A: “Vassalage” symbolizes the speaker’s sense of duty and devotion to their beloved.
Q: What does the “apparel” symbolize in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “apparel” symbolizes validation and form given to the speaker’s love.
Q: What does the speaker’s “wit” refer to in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker’s “wit” refers to their ability to express their feelings.
Short Answer Questions
Q: How does the speaker in “Sonnet 26” express their love?
A: The speaker expresses their love through a sense of duty and devotion to their beloved. They send this sonnet as a written message to their beloved, bearing witness to their duty and not to showcase their wit or cleverness. This shows the depth of their love and their humility.
Q: What does the speaker hope for in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker hopes for understanding and reciprocation from their beloved. Despite their inability to express their feelings adequately, they hope that their beloved will understand their intentions and bestow meaning upon their words. This reflects the speaker’s vulnerability and their hope for love.
Q: What sign is the speaker waiting for in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker is waiting for a “star” to guide them, symbolizing a sign of their beloved’s love. This sign will validate and give form to their love, showing them that they are worthy of their beloved’s love. This reflects the speaker’s anticipation and hope.
Q: What will this sign do for the speaker’s love in “Sonnet 26”?
A: This sign will “put apparel” on their love, meaning it will validate and give form to their love. It will show the speaker that they are worthy of their beloved’s love, giving them the confidence to express their love openly.
Q: When will the speaker dare to express their love in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker will dare to express their love when they feel they have earned their beloved’s respect. They will not make themselves known or visible until they feel they are worthy of their beloved’s love. This reflects the speaker’s humility and caution.
Q: What does the “head” represent in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “head” represents the speaker’s presence or visibility. The speaker will not “show my head,” meaning they will not make themselves known or visible until they feel they have earned their beloved’s respect. This symbolizes the speaker’s humility and their fear of rejection.
Q: What does the “star” represent in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “star” represents a sign or guidance from the beloved. The speaker is waiting for this “star” to guide them, showing them that they are worthy of their beloved’s love. This symbolizes the speaker’s hope and anticipation for reciprocation of their love.
Q: What does “vassalage” symbolize in “Sonnet 26”?
A: “Vassalage” symbolizes the speaker’s sense of duty and devotion to their beloved. It refers to the feudal system where a vassal pledged loyalty to a lord, symbolizing the speaker’s deep sense of obligation and service to their beloved.
Q: What does the “apparel” symbolize in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The “apparel” symbolizes validation and form given to the speaker’s love. The speaker is waiting for a sign to “put apparel” on their love, meaning it will validate and give form to their love. This symbolizes the speaker’s desire for their love to be recognized and reciprocated.
Q: What does the speaker’s “wit” refer to in “Sonnet 26”?
A: The speaker’s “wit” refers to their ability to express their feelings. The speaker acknowledges that their wit may be inadequate to express the depth of their duty and love, reflecting their humility and the intensity of their feelings.
