Summary:
This sonnet, also known as Sonnet 29, expresses the speaker’s deep despair and feelings of social isolation. At the beginning, he laments his misfortunes, feeling rejected by both fate and society. He envies others who have more wealth, power, and skills. However, his mood shifts when he remembers his beloved, which brings him immense joy and gratitude. The poem conveys the idea that love can provide comfort and restore self-worth, even in difficult times.
MCQs:
- What is the main theme of the poem?
- A) Love and beauty
- B) Wealth and power
- C) Despair and redemption
- D) Nature and seasons
- Answer: C) Despair and redemption
- What poetic form does the poem follow?
- A) Free verse
- B) Shakespearean sonnet
- C) Haiku
- D) Limerick
- Answer: B) Shakespearean sonnet
- What is the speaker’s emotional state at the beginning of the poem?
- A) Happy and content
- B) Proud and boastful
- C) Depressed and hopeless
- D) Angry and vengeful
- Answer: C) Depressed and hopeless
When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
- What changes the speaker’s mood in the poem?
- A) Remembering his beloved
- B) Gaining wealth
- C) Receiving public recognition
- D) Moving to a new place
- Answer: A) Remembering his beloved
- What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?
- A) AABB CCDD EEFF GG
- B) ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
- C) ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
- D) AABBCC DDEEFF GG
- Answer: C) ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
- What does the speaker compare himself to in the poem?
- A) A wealthy king
- B) A lark rising at dawn
- C) A traveler lost in the woods
- D) A knight in battle
- Answer: B) A lark rising at dawn
- What does “fortune” symbolize in the poem?
- A) Good luck and prosperity
- B) Random chance and fate
- C) A person’s intelligence
- D) The power of love
- Answer: B) Random chance and fate
- What feeling does the speaker express towards others at the beginning of the poem?
- A) Admiration and respect
- B) Envy and resentment
- C) Love and gratitude
- D) Indifference and apathy
- Answer: B) Envy and resentment
- How does the poem end?
- A) With the speaker feeling even more miserable
- B) With the speaker finding comfort in love
- C) With the speaker seeking revenge
- D) With the speaker gaining wealth and fame
- Answer: B) With the speaker finding comfort in love
- What is the primary literary device used in the poem?
- A) Personification
- B) Hyperbole
- C) Simile
- D) Metaphor
- Answer: D) Metaphor
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | When in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes |
| Poet | William Shakespeare |
| Year Written | Early 1600s |
| Year Published | 1609 |
| Poem Type | Shakespearean Sonnet |
| Themes | Despair, Isolation, Redemption through Love |
| Rhyme Scheme | ABAB CDCD EFEF GG |
| Main Literary Devices | Metaphor, Alliteration, Imagery, Contrast |
| Famous Line | “Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply |