Summary:
In this sonnet, William Shakespeare argues that poetry is more enduring than material monuments. While statues and grand structures are destroyed by time and war, poetry can immortalize its subject forever. The poet expresses confidence that his verses will outlast physical structures and ensure that the memory of the person he writes about will live on. The poem highlights the power of art and literature to defy the destructive forces of time.
MCQs:
- Who is the poet of “Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments”?
- A) John Milton
- B) William Wordsworth
- C) William Shakespeare
- D) Robert Frost
- Answer: C) William Shakespeare
- What does the poet compare his poem to in the sonnet?
- A) A golden crown
- B) A strong castle
- C) A marble statue and monuments
- D) A flowing river
- Answer: C) A marble statue and monuments
- What theme is primarily highlighted in the poem?
- A) The power of war
- B) The mortality of humans
- C) The eternal nature of poetry
- D) The unpredictability of life
- Answer: C) The eternal nature of poetry
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
- According to the poet, what destroys the monuments over time?
- A) Earthquakes
- B) War and natural decay
- C) Corruption
- D) Heavy rain
- Answer: B) War and natural decay
- How does the poet claim to immortalize the subject of the poem?
- A) By building a strong monument
- B) By dedicating a song
- C) By writing poetry
- D) By carving their name in stone
- Answer: C) By writing poetry
- What poetic form is used in “Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments”?
- A) Free verse
- B) Haiku
- C) Shakespearean Sonnet
- D) Ballad
- Answer: C) Shakespearean Sonnet
- What does the poet believe poetry can withstand?
- A) Death and destruction
- B) The judgment of critics
- C) The test of intelligence
- D) The power of kings
- Answer: A) Death and destruction
- What does “sluttish time” refer to in the poem?
- A) The power of women
- B) The destructive nature of time
- C) The loyalty of time
- D) The wisdom gained over time
- Answer: B) The destructive nature of time
- How does the poet believe the subject will live on?
- A) Through historical records
- B) Through the poet’s verses
- C) Through royal lineage
- D) Through the memories of their family
- Answer: B) Through the poet’s verses
- What is the rhyme scheme of this sonnet?
- A) ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
- B) AABB CCDD EEFF GG
- C) ABC ABC DEF DEF
- D) AAB CDD EFF GG
- Answer: A) ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments |
| Poet | William Shakespeare |
| Year Written | Early 1600s |
| Year Published | 1609 |
| Poem Type | Shakespearean Sonnet |
| Themes | Immortality of Poetry, Power of Art, Time & Decay |
| Rhyme Scheme | ABAB CDCD EFEF GG |
| Literary Devices | Metaphor, Personification, Imagery |
| Main Idea | Poetry is eternal, while physical monuments decay over time. |