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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,
5
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
10
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

Multiple choice
The phrase "chronicle of wasted time" (line 1) most likely refers to:

  • Historical records that the speaker believes are irrelevant to the present

  • An archive of obsolete traditions

  • A record of historical events perceived as unfruitful

  • A diary documenting personal failures

  • A journal kept during unproductive periods

Question 2

Multiple choice
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:

  • Imagining a more beautiful era

  • Critiquing the style of old poetry

  • Reading about historical figures

  • Reflecting on the nature of beauty in literature

  • Recalling his own past experiences

Question 3

Multiple choice
The phrase "Even such a beauty as you master now" (line 8) implies that the speaker:

  • Thinks that beauty is a skill to be mastered

  • Is comparing the addressee to historical figures

  • Believes the addressee possesses unparalleled beauty

  • Feels the addressee's beauty is temporary

  • Is envious of the addressee's appearance

Question 4

Multiple choice
So all their praises are but prophecies (line 9) suggests that the speaker views the past descriptions as:

  • Overly flattering and unrealistic

  • Insights into future trends in beauty

  • Meaningless flattery without substance

  • Accurate predictions of the addressee's qualities

  • Misguided attempts to predict the future

Question 5

Multiple choice
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 past poets lacked the necessary skills to truly appreciate beauty

  • The addressee has qualities that transcend time

  • The past poets were not as visionary as once thought

  • The addressee's qualities are beyond the comprehension of past poets

  • Divination was a common practice among poets

Question 6

Multiple choice
The speaker's attitude toward the past poets and their work, as described in lines 13-14, can best be described as:

  • Indifference to their contributions

  • Admiration for their foresight

  • Respect for their artistic expressions

  • Skepticism about their significance

  • Criticism of their limited perspective

Question 7

Multiple choice
In the context of the poem, the word "blazon" (line 5) most likely means:

  • A coat of arms

  • A proclamation

  • A loud declaration

  • An artistic depiction

  • A detailed description

Question 8

Multiple choice
The reference to "ladies dead and lovely knights" (line 4) primarily serves to:

  • Critique the societal norms of chivalry

  • Highlight the speaker's interest in medieval literature

  • Contrast past and present ideals of beauty

  • Emphasize the transient nature of beauty

  • Illustrate the timelessness of certain archetypes

Question 9

Multiple choice
The mention of "hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow" (line 6) suggests that the speaker is:

  • Illustrating the completeness of the addressee's beauty

  • Emphasizing the superficial nature of physical beauty

  • Comparing the addressee to a work of art

  • Listing the physical attributes admired in the past

  • Enumerating the qualities that define beauty

Question 10

Multiple choice
The overall tone of the poem can best be described as:

  • Critical and analytical

  • Nostalgic and wistful

  • Admiring and reverential

  • Hopeful and optimistic

  • Sardonic and dismissive

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