True Love by William Shakespeare

 True Love by William Shakespeare

 William Shakespeare: Very Brief Life and Works

Life:

• William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor.
• He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and spent most of his life there.
• Shakespeare's personal life is relatively less documented, but he likely married Anne Hathaway, and they had three children.
• He is often referred to as the "Bard of Avon" and is one of the most celebrated figures in English literature. 

Works

Shakespeare is renowned for his contributions to the world of literature, particularly for his plays and poetry.

• He wrote approximately 39 plays, including classics like "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Othello."
• His sonnets, a collection of 154 poems, are considered masterpieces of English poetry.
• Shakespeare's works encompass various genres, including tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances.
• His writings have had a profound and enduring influence on English literature, drama, and the arts.

William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest playwrights and poets in the English language. His works continue to be widely studied, performed, and appreciated for their timeless themes, characters, and language.

 

Summary

"True Love" is a sonnet (Sonnet 116) written by William Shakespeare, and it explores the enduring and unwavering nature of true love. Here is a detailed summary of the poem:

The poem begins with the speaker's assertion that "true love" is not susceptible to the obstacles and challenges that might hinder a marriage between two genuinely loving individuals. The speaker proclaims that no impediments or external factors should be allowed to affect the union of "true minds" in love.

The speaker then goes on to define what true love is not. True love, the speaker argues, is not genuine if it changes when it encounters alterations or difficulties. It does not waver or bend when confronted with change, nor does it yield when the beloved's qualities or circumstances change.

Instead, true love is described as a constant and unwavering beacon, an "ever-fixed mark." It remains steadfast and unshaken even in the face of life's storms and challenges. It is compared to a guiding star for every wandering ship, regardless of its unknown worth, as it provides direction and stability.

The poem then contrasts true love with the passage of time. While physical beauty, symbolized by "rosy lips and cheeks," is subject to the inevitable march of time, true love does not change or diminish with the passing hours, weeks, or years. It endures until the very brink of "doom," or the end of existence itself.

The poem concludes with a solemn declaration that if the ideas presented in the poem are proven to be false or mistaken, then the speaker has never written a word, and no one has ever truly loved. This statement underscores the speaker's unwavering conviction in the steadfastness and permanence of true love.

In summary, "True Love" by William Shakespeare is a sonnet that celebrates the constancy and immutability of genuine love. It asserts that true love is unchanging, unwavering, and remains a guiding light even in the face of life's challenges and the passage of time.

 MCQs

1.      What is the central theme of "True Love" (Sonnet 116)?

a)      The fickleness of love

b)      The enduring nature of true love

c)      The challenges of marriage

d)     The importance of physical beauty

Answer: b) The enduring nature of true love

 

2.      In the poem, the speaker describes true love as an "ever-fixed mark." What does this phrase mean?

a)      Love is constantly changing.

b)      Love is subject to alteration.

c)      Love is unwavering and constant.

d)     Love is unpredictable.

Answer: c) Love is unwavering and constant.

 

3.      According to the poem, what does true love do when it encounters alteration or change?

a)      It bends and adapts to change.

b)      It remains constant and unchanging.

c)      It becomes indifferent.

d)     It loses its value.

Answer: b) It remains constant and unchanging.

 

4.      The poem suggests that true love is compared to a guiding "star" for what?

a)      Guiding travelers on land

b)      Providing warmth and light

c)      Directing ships at sea

d)     Leading people to their destiny

Answer: c) Directing ships at sea

 

5.      What is the significance of "rosy lips and cheeks" in the poem?

a)      They symbolize the constancy of true love.

b)      They represent the passage of time.

c)      They highlight physical beauty.

d)     They signify the importance of wealth.

Answer: c) They highlight physical beauty.

 

6.      The poem's assertion that "Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks" suggests what about true love?

a)      True love changes constantly.

b)      True love remains consistent over time.

c)      True love loses its appeal over time.

d)     True love is unpredictable.

Answer: b) True love remains consistent over time.

 

7.      How does the poem conclude regarding the speaker's conviction in the nature of true love?

a)      The speaker is uncertain about the concept of true love.

b)      The speaker doubts the existence of true love.

c)      The speaker is resolute in their belief in true love.

d)     The speaker is indifferent to the concept of love.

Answer: c) The speaker is resolute in their belief in true love.

 

8.      What is the poem's overall message about true love?

a)      True love is fleeting and unreliable.

b)      True love is only found in fairy tales.

c)      True love endures and remains steadfast.

d)     True love is a rare and elusive emotion.

Answer: c) True love endures and remains steadfast.

 

9.      The central idea of "True Love" can be described as a celebration of:

a)      Love's ability to change and adapt.

b)      Love's dependence on physical beauty.

c)      Love's constancy and enduring nature.

d)     Love's fickle and unpredictable nature.

Answer: c) Love's constancy and enduring nature.

 

10.  What does the speaker declare in the final lines of the poem?

a)      That true love is rare and unattainable

b)      That the poem is a work of fiction

c)      That the concept of true love is flawed

d)     That true love is unwavering and everlasting

Answer: d) That true love is unwavering and everlasting.

 

Short Answers Type Questions

 

1. What does the speaker mean by "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds"?

Answer: The speaker means that genuine love does not change when it encounters alterations or difficulties. It remains constant and unwavering despite external changes or challenges.

2. How does the poem characterize true love's constancy and steadfastness?

Answer: The poem characterizes true love as an "ever-fixed mark" that remains unshaken even in the face of life's tempests and changes. It is described as a guiding star for wandering ships, symbolizing its unwavering nature.

3. In the poem, what role does time play in relation to true love?

Answer: The poem emphasizes that true love is not subject to the passage of time. While physical beauty may diminish with time, true love remains unchanged and endures even to the "edge of doom."

4. Why does the speaker suggest that if the poem's ideas are proven false, he has "never writ" and "no man ever lov'd"?

Answer: The speaker is using hyperbole to emphasize the absolute conviction in the enduring nature of true love. He means that if true love is not constant and unwavering, then his words are meaningless, and no one has truly experienced or understood love.

5. How does the poem's message about true love relate to Shakespeare's broader themes in his sonnets?

Answer: The poem's message aligns with the broader themes found in many of Shakespeare's sonnets, which often explore the nature of love, time, beauty, and the enduring qualities of love. "True Love" emphasizes the idea that love remains constant in the face of life's challenges and the passage of time, a theme that recurs throughout Shakespeare's sonnets.