Question

click to read \sonnet 73\ by william shakespeare. then answer the question.

shakespeare uses which metaphor for aging in this sonnet?

a. a fire that is about to burn out
b. a bird that is singing in the trees
c. the sunrise of a new day
d. a beautiful church choir

Explanation:

Identify the metaphors for aging in Sonnet 73

In "Sonnet 73" ("That time of year thou mayst in me behold"), William Shakespeare uses three primary metaphors to describe his aging and approaching death:

1. Autumn (the time of year with yellow leaves, or none, or few hanging on boughs).
2. Twilight/Sunset (the fading of the day in the west after sunset).
3. A dying fire (the glowing of such fire that lies on the ashes of his youth, about to expire).

Evaluate the given options against the poem's text

• Option A: "A fire that is about to burn out" directly corresponds to the third quatrain of the sonnet: "In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie..."
• Option B: "A bird that is singing in the trees" is incorrect; the poem mentions "bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang" to emphasize the absence of singing birds due to aging/decay.
• Option C: "The sunrise of a new day" is incorrect; the poem describes sunset and twilight fading into night, not sunrise.
• Option D: "A beautiful church choir" is incorrect; the poem refers to "bare ruin'd choirs" where birds used to sing, symbolizing decay rather than a beautiful active choir.

Select the correct option

Option A is the only accurate metaphor for aging used in Sonnet 73.

Answer:

• (A) A fire that is about to burn out (Correct answer)
• (B) A bird that is singing in the trees
• (C) The sunrise of a new day
• (D) A beautiful church choir