what is the central Question in this poem? and answer it?

Question

"Sonnet to Science"

Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!

Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.

Why preyest thou thus upon the poet's heart,

Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?

How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise,

Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering

To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,

Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?

Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car*? * (car- short for chariot)

And driven the Hamadryad from the wood

To seek a shelter in some happier star?

Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,

The Elfin from the green grass, and from me

The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?

3. IDENTIFY THE CENTRAL QUESTION POE ASKS HERE AND ANSWER IT IN ONE PARAGRAPH OF WRITING.

-THIS IS AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION TO WHICH THERE ARE MANY POSSIBLE RESPONSES.

TIPS- Try to identify who is the “vulture”? What is the vulture doing to the poet? Who is the first person “me” in the 13th line? What is he suggesting about science and poetry?

Answer 1

Jackie - let's meet for 30-45 minutes, and I'll help you draft an answer to these questions. This is a great sonnet to study and interpret. I would enjoy discussing it with you!

As you read over the sonnet - put yourself in the author's shoes. What is being taken, and who is doing the taking? As you think of vultures - what images come to mind? How does this relate to the overall tone and feeling in the work?

Think these things over, write your ideas, and we'll be on our way to a quality answer.