SHORT QUESTIONS OF SONNET-18 BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

1. What is sonnet? 

The term sonnet has come from the Italian word ‘sonetto’, which means "little song". Sonnet is a type of poem that basically contains fourteen lines and follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure.

2. How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets in two sequences. His first sonnet sequence included 126 sonnets which were addressed to his friend, probably William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke and his second sonnet sequence included 28 sonnets which were addressed to a Dark Lady.

3. What is the rhyme scheme and structure of Shakespearean sonnet? 

Shakespearean sonnet has three quatrains and a concluding couplet. It follows “abab cdcd efef gg” rhyme scheme.

4. What is the prosodic name of sonnet no-18?

Sonnet no-18 is an example of iambic pentameter.

5. When was this sonnet published? 

This sonnet was published in 1609.

6. Whom has the poet addressed in this poem? 

In this poem the poet has addressed his friend, probably William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke

7. Who is compared to the summer’s day? 

Poet’s beloved friend, probably William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke is compared to the summer’s day.

8. How did the poet’s friend out do the summer’s day? 

The poet’s friend out did the summer’s day in beauty and personality.

9. What is the literary meaning of ‘thou art’? 

What type of words are these? ‘Thou art’ means ‘you are’. These are the archaic words.

10. Give some similar meanings of the word ‘temperate’. 

Some similar meanings of the word ‘temperate’ are serious, mild, harsh, constant, having personality.

11. What affects the buds of May? 

The rough wind affects the buds of May.

12. How does the poet underestimate the summer?

The poet underestimates the summer by saying that its validity is very short in respect of comparison to the poet’s friend.

13. What does the phrase ‘eye of heaven’ mean?

The phrase ‘eye of heaven’ means the sun, the source of all power of the earth.

14. How does the poet underestimate the sun?

Accroding to the poet, the sun may shine very hot and its complexion may be very golden but its hotness and golden colour sometime dim.

15. What is the poet’s observation on beauty of natural objects? 

The poet gets a realization that every natural object’s beauty is subjected to decay or decline.

16. How does every natural object lose its beauty?

Every natural object loses its beauty by misfortune or by the impact of time.

17. What does the phrase “eternal summer” mean?

The phrase “eternal summer” means the eternal youth and vigour of the poet’s friend.

18. What does the word “ow’st” mean? 

The word “ow’st” may mean “ownest” as well as “owest”. In Shakespeare’s time the words “own” and “owe” both had the similar meaning.

19. What possession does the poet’s friend own?

The poet’s friend owns the possession of eternal beauty.

20. Why will the death not able to brag the poet’s friend? 

The death not able to brag the poet’s friend as his friend will always be immortal in the lines of poet’s poetry.

21. How many days will poet’s poerty live on?

According to the poet, as long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long his poetry will live on.

22. What does the word ‘shade’ signify? 

The word ‘shade’ signifies the ‘shadow of death’.

Significance of the lamp in the the doll's house.

               Answer: Writer Katherine mansfield has symbolically presented so many elements in the story Doll's House and the lamp is one one of the important symbolic element. Getting doll's house as a gift from Mrs Hay, Burnell children were very much amazed especially for the realistic elements of the house. But Kezia, the youngest of the Burnell children took interest only in a simple lamp situated in the middle of a dining table. When the eldest Burnell children Isabel was proudly describing the doll's house and its every object to her schoolmates, only Kezia insisted on describing the lamp. According to her, it was a perfect lamp and looked real.

                      Symbolically this lamp represents the working class of our society who sacrifices their labour to light up the upper class people. Here the lamp is against the capitalism. Though the labour class sell their labour only to make capitalist wealthy and radiant, their labour goes in vain. Nobody looks at the labour class or gives dignity to them. Only the capitalist gets respect just like in a house a lamp lights up the house and makes everything of the house visible and beautiful and that lamp's effort remains unsung while everyone praises the quality of other items. Here the irony lies. 

                  On the other hand, the lamp is a symbol of hope and with that hope, the writer wants the little character Kezia to perish the conflict of rich and poor, caste, creed of our society. Writer is hopeful that Kezia will able to give light in the darkness of prejudice just like a lamp eliminates the darkness of a room.

                     At the very end of the story, we see that Kezia allows little Else to see the doll's house especially its lamp and both the children realizes the same that an insignificant object like lamp may take an important role against social prejudice. Thus, writer Katherine Mansfield connects the lower class Else to upper class Kezia through a lamp. So the lamp is the symbol of connection, inclusivity and prejudice free society.

CHARACTER OF KEZIA

Ans: Kezia, the youngest daughter of the three Burnell children, is the unsung protagonist of the story Doll's House by Katherine Mansfield. The writer has profoundly characterized Kezia in this story. She is full of innocence under the symbolic reality of experience. She represents herself as an independent girl who always opposes the convention of thinking, social rule. Through the portrayal of such a character, writer symbolically tries to present the blind justification of social conformity /conflict. As the story starts, we are told that while two of her elder sisters admire the beauty realistic elements like bed, its sheet, red carpet etc of a gifted doll's house, Kezia's attention goes to a rather simple lamp. It reveals her innocence, impeccability. She tries to find out the faults of the house and perfection with its lamp. Only she loves the lamp while other two sisters give no importance to it. 

            She always goes against social convention. she displays it again when she decides to become friend with Kelvey children who are looked down upon, ignored, underestimated by all because Kelveys belong to a Poor and lower class washerwoman mother and convict father. Kezia challenges others' way of behaviour and asks her mother "Can't I ask the Kelveys was just once?". She is against the social conflict. And ultimately Kezia gets the chance and invites the Kelvey girls inside their house to show their doll's house. She disregards the tradition of society, fear of getting rebuked by elders, thoughts imposed on her by society. Thus Kezia establishes herself as a girl of independent mind, rational thoughts, and purity of heart.