NOT MARBLE, NOR THE GILDED MONUMENTS: SUMMARY AND QUESTION ANSWERS

 

Introduction of the poem:

In this article, you will be reading not marble, nor the gilded monuments summary, the 55th sonnet written by William Shakespeare. It is a poem of fourteen lines that follows a specific structure and a strict rhyme scheme. The poem tells us about the grandeur and limitations of worldly glory. All the monuments, memorials, and statues made by the great rulers are subject to decay. The ruins of time and the agents of downfall damage all such monuments and relics. Only the great rhyme of the poet and their powerful poetry will survive the destruction. This Shakespearean sonnet says that the love will remain immortal and the beauty of the poem will live on forever enshrined in its words.

Through the written words of this poem, the memory of the poet’s friend will remain until the day of the Last Judgment. The poet speaks to a specific love in this poem, although it is not clear whether it is a human or more abstract love.

Summary of the poem:

The poet says that the gold – plated monuments built by royal men will not be remembered by the future generations whereas, this piece of poetry will live longer than the stone statues. Through this powerful poetry, the poet’s beloved soldier referred to as ‘you’ will also shine for all times to come. The poetry will remain shining and fresh while the statues will be neglected and wear out with time. The poet says that wars are wasteful as they destroy the great monuments and turn them into ruins. Such fights are destructive for the statues built by the royal men.

This poetry has been written in the memory of the brave man who will survive through all the wars. Even the greatest warrior Mars cannot destroy it with his sword. The Brave man will remain alive through this poem even after his death. All the generations that will be born will read this poem and praise the poet’s beloved till the end of the world. The poet refers to the ‘Judgment Day’ when Jesus Christ will descend on the Earth to judge our behaviour. The poet says that he will remain alive through this poem till the Day of Judgment when his beloved will arise. Everyone will praise the brave man and his deeds after reading the poem.

The poet here has personified time as a slut which means being disloyal. The princes and the powerful, who enjoyed great privileges will lose their charm and beauty just like a slut. In this poem, the poet is confident and optimistic. He believes that the forces of war or nature cannot destroy his poem. The poem deals with the unique theme of immortality sought by the princes, great rulers, and the rich. Shakespeare wishes to erect an everlasting monument which he believes will stand the test of time. The poet compares his poetry with the unperishable thing that has the power to outlive stone and marble monuments. The poet refers to Mars, who is the god of war and force of destruction and animosity in Greek Mythology.

Conclusion:

The poem teaches us that the love and peace issue the ultimate force that can overpower any force of violence and destruction.

Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments is the 55th sonnet written by William Shakespeare. It tells about the limitations of worldly glory and grandeur (impressiveness) All the great monuments, memorials and statues erected by princes, rulers and the rich to perpetuate (maintain) their memory are subject to decay, destruction and deterioration. (failure) The ravages of time and the agents of destruction destroy and damage all such monuments and memorials. Only the powerful rhyme of the poet and great poetry will survive the ravages (destruction) of time. Through the written words of this poem, the poet will immortalize the memory of his friend till the day of the Last Judgment.

 

Quatrain: 1
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear’d with sluttish time.

Word meaning
gilded: covered with gold; gold-plated
these contents: refers to this poetry
unswept stone: a stone monument left uncared for
besmear’d: tarnished
sluttish: of unclean habits and behavior

Explanation – The poet says that this piece of poetry will remain alive longer than the stone statues and gold – plated monuments built by royal men. (The royal men build statues and monuments so that they become immortal and are remembered by the future generations).  The poet’s beloved soldier referred to as ‘you’ shall be remembered through this powerful poetry. In comparison to the statues which will be neglected and wear out with the passage of time, the poetry will remain shining and fresh as ever. Through the poetry, the poet’s beloved will also shine for all times to come.

 

Quatrain: 2
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.

Word meaning
broils: tumult, fighting, disturbances, esp. in war
work of masonry: refers to monuments built by masons
Mars: the god of war
Sword: a weapon with a long metal blade
quick: lively, fast moving, searching out
living record: this written memory of your life which continues after you are dead

Explanation – The poet says that wars are wasteful as they destroy the statues built by the royal men. Such fights are destructive as they destroy the great monuments and turn them into ruins. This poetry that has been written in the memory of the brave man cannot be destroyed even by the greatest warrior Mars. It will survive through all the wars.

 

 Quatrain 3

‘Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room,
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom

Word meaning
Gainst: against
oblivious enmity: enmity which is forgetful of everything and so seeks to destroy everything
pace forth: stride forwards
posterity: future generations
doom: doomsday; the day on which the Last Judgment will occur

Explanation – Even after his death and in the face of all his enemies, the brave man shall remain alive through this poem. All the generations that will be born on this Earth till the end of the world will read this poem and praise the poet’s beloved.

 

Couplet:

So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.
Word meaning
Judgement: the day of the last judgement
Dwell: live

Explanation – The poet refers to the ‘Judgement day’ when the dead will arise out of their graves and Jesus Christ will descend on the Earth to judge their acts. He says that till the day of judgement when his beloved will arise out of his grave, he will remain alive through this poem. Everyone who reads the poem will praise the brave man and thus, he shall live in the eyes of his beloved.

 

Literary devices in the poem:

 

1. Allusion – reference to ‘Mars’ – the God of war and ‘Judgement’ – the day of judgement.
2. Alliteration – ‘when wasteful wars’ – ‘w’ sound repeated, ‘shall shine’ – ‘sh’ sound repeated
3. Personification – ‘Time’ has been called a ‘slut’ and thus, personified. This poetry has been personified when called ‘living record’.
4. Repetition – ‘shall’ and ‘nor’ repeated to create musical effect
5. Imagery – visual imagery is used in ‘unswept stone, besmear’d with sluttish time’ as the reader can imagine statues which become ruins with the passage of time and ‘When wasteful war shall statues overturn And broils root out the work of masonry’ as the reader can imagine the destruction caused by wars.

6. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /i/ in “You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes” and the sound of /a/ in “When wasteful war shall statues overturn”.

7. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession. For example, the sound of /sh/ in “But you shall shine more bright in these contents” and the sound of /w/ in “When wasteful war shall statues overturn”.

8. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; instead, it continues in the next line. For example,

“Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,

But you shall shine more bright in these contents

Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.”

9. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “Not marble nor the gilded monuments” and “Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn.”

10. Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. Shakespeare has used this device at many places in the poem such as; “When wasteful war shall statues overturn” and “And broils root out the work of masonry.”

 

(a) Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages of time.
Ans- The monuments and statues brave the ravages of time. However, in the process, they get ruined, disfigured, broken or spoiled, if not taken proper care of.

(b) Validate the poet’s reference to Time, as being sluttish.
Ans- The poet refers to Time as sluttish because it spoils the marbled or gilded monuments. It discolors them, spoils them and ruins them gradually through its various agents or forces. These agents are like air, rain, natural vegetation, etc.

(c) Elaborate on the reason why wars have been described as ‘wasteful’?
Ans- Describing wars as “wasteful” highlights that all results of war are not useful. Wars lead to destruction, death, loss of resources. All these things are negative impacts and so, wars are wasteful.

(d) The poet says that neither forces of nature nor wars can destroy his poetry. In fact, even godly powers of Mars are not going to have a devastating effect on his rhyme. What quality of the poet is revealed through these lines?
Ans- The permanence of his poetic art and the immortality of his verse is a characteristic trait which can be noticed in the quality of the poet. It is a well known fact that like Time and Nature, literary art is also immortal and permanent, making poets live through their work, for thousands of years.

5. Shakespeare’s sonnet has been divided into three quatrains of four lines, each followed by a rhyming couplet. Each quatrain is a unit of meaning. Read the poem carefully and complete the following table on the structure of the poem.

 

A. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;

Q1. Who is the poet of this verse?
Ans- Shakespeare is the poet of this verse.

Q2. What will not outlive the powerful rhyme?
Ans- The monuments built to immortalise will not outlive his rhyme.

Q3. What does he mean by “Powerful rhyme?
Ans- By ‘powerful rhyme’ the poet is referring to the power of poetry.

Q4. What is the poet conveying through these lines?
Ans- The poet is attempting to convey the idea that “words” have the extraordinary ability to be kept and immortalised and, as a result, survive the physical buildings created in honour of great leaders.

B. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear’d with sluttish time.

Q1. Who is “You” in the first line?
Ans- ‘You’ is poet’s beloved friend.

Q2. Why is the poet calling time sluttish?
Ans- The poet is therefore referring to time as sluttish, because time that is guided by nature displays “unethical” behaviour while ruthlessly destroying and tarnishing precious monuments.

Q3. Identify the poetic device.
Ans- Alliteration- The sound of /sh/ in “But you shall shine more bright in these contents”

Q4. What do you understand by “Unswept stone”?
Ans- “Unswept stone” implies monuments that are built for immortalising great leaders, are often left unattended and uncared for.

C. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.

Q1. What do wasteful wars and broils do?
Ans- Wasteful wars and broils destroy the statues that are pieces of wonderful work of masonry.

Q2. Explain the third line.
Ans- The poet is saying that neither the sword of “Mars” the God of war, nor the fires that spread during wars can burn anything that is “written” to record a memory.

 

Q3. Why would it be a living record?
Ans- The memory is written down so, it is considered to be a living record as it continues to be alive as it is read and passed on from one generation to another.

Q4. Identify the poetic device.
Ans- Imagery- Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
Alliteration- The sound of /w/ in “When wasteful war shall statues overturn”.
Personification- “And broils root out the work of masonry.”

D. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.

Q1. Who shall pace forth against death and all oblivious enmity?
Ans- The poet says that the written memory of his beloved will walk forward to remain alive defeating death and enmity which is forgetful of everything and so seeks to destroy everything.

Q2. What is to happen till the ending doom?
Ans- The poet says that the verses written to praise his beloved will continue to remain alive as it will be read even by the last generation that lives to face the doomsday.

Q3. Find a word which means the same as “the entire world in generations to come; descendants; succeeding generations, future times”
Ans- Posterity

Q4. What is “ending doom”?
Ans- The ending doom that the poet is referring to is the Apocalypse; i.e., the last day of humanity.

 

E. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

Q1. What does “the Judgement” mean?
Ans- According to Christian belief, ‘Judgement” is —Immediately upon death each soul undergoes the particular judgement, and depending upon the state of the person’s soul, goes to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. … The Last Judgement will occur after the resurrection of all the dead souls and the reuniting of a person’s soul with its own physical body, resulting in the glorification of some and the punishment of others.

Q2. Where will the poet’s friend dwell?
Ans- The poet’s beloved will be alive in the eyes of all the lovers ‘who’d be inspired to read the words of praise he had written to keep her memory alive

Q3. Find two themes of the poem.
Ans- Love and Immortality

 

Short answer type questions

 

In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from Chapter 8 Not Marble nor the Gilded Monuments (Poem) for CBSE Class 10 exam in the coming session

 

Question 1. How does the poet declare his rhyme to be powerful?
Or
What comparisons does the poet draw between the poetry and monuments?
Answer: The poet claims that even if time will eventually demolish the most majestic monuments on earth, it won’t erase the poem’s powerful rhyme. In order to demonstrate how poetry is more powerful than these buildings, he draws similarities between poetry and other monuments. The poem that the poet has written in honour of his young companion has a profound impact that is unmatched by the priceless marble or the gold-plated monuments intended to represent the tombs of royalty. Everything is destroyed by sluttish time. But the time will have no sway over the poem that glorifies the young friend in its lines.

Question 2. Describe how poetry survives all wars and destruction.
Or
Describe how the memory of the friend shall survive all kinds of ravages.
Answer: The poet has a lot of faith in the power of poetry. He expresses his sorrow at how destructive conflicts destroy magnificent sculptures and reduce them to insignificance.
In addition, he is saddened to learn that even significant conflicts, particularly those that arise during a war, devastate magnificent works of architecture. He is also pleased to say that the words in which he has exalted his dear friend cannot be ruined by the hostilities that Mars (God of war) and his followers have instigated.

Question 3. ‘Gainst death and all oblivious enmity, shall you pace forth.’ On the basis of these lines comment how the poet honours his friend.
Answer: The poet states that he has created a living record of his friend in the form of a sonnet that will outlive all the ravages of time. This written recollection of his friend must be respected and preserved for future generations. The poet makes it clear that his friend will advance despite all negative forces, including death and foes, and will be revered even by future generations. His memory will live on till the end of mankind as we know it—the doomsday—and outlive the entire world.

Question 4. What judgement does the poet talk about in the ending couplet of this poem?
Answer: When the poet talks of the “judgement” in the last couplet, he is referring to the end of the world, the Apocalypse, or the last day of humanity. In order to emphasise his friend’s immortality in his verse, he alludes to judgement in this stanza. He wishes to reassure the audience that his friend will live forever and that this poetry will be read as long as humanity exists.

 

Question 5. Where does the poet tell his friend to stay until the judgement day and why?
Answer: The poet cares deeply about his friendship and about his friend. He claims that his friend will always be remembered in the poetry he wrote and will be adored by all lovers everywhere. Only on the final day of humanity (the Day of the Last Judgement) will he ascend to heaven. He will continue to exist in this poem and in the hearts of the lovers who read it till the doomsday.

Question 6. Why do you think the rich and powerful people get monuments and statues erected in their memory?
Answer: The rich and the powerful people get the monuments and statues erected in their memory so as to last until posterity. The rich do not realise that good deeds can outlive these monuments.

Question 7. Describe how the monuments and statues struggle to brave the ravages of time.
Answer:
Time is all powerful. All durable, solid, precious marbles and gilded memorials that mark the graves of the princes are ravaged with the passage of time. These stone monuments are left uncared and neglected to such an extent that the cruel time tarnishes and destroys them completely. Whatever little is spared and left is destroyed completely by the wasteful wars and broils.

Question 8. “You live in this, and dwell in lovers eyes.”
(a) How can he dwell in lovers’ eyes?
(b) What values are highlighted in the above line?
Answer:
(a) He can dwell in lovers’ eyes by living in the memory of his admirers. He will be immortalised in the verses of the poet.
(b) Despite death and enemies one can be remembered by his good deeds. Beautiful words may make one eternal, not sculptures and monuments. Pen thus has greater power than both time and the sword. Nobody makes himself eternal by wealth and power, but anybody may be remembered by impacting people’s hearts.

 

Read the following extract and answer the question that follow. Not marble, nor the gilded monuments of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme; But you shall shine more bright in these contents Than un swept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.

 

(a) What does the word 'marble' refer to?

 

(b) What does the phrase "In these contents' refer to?

 

(c) What does the phrase "Than un swept stone" mean

 

Ans: (a) It refers to the statues

 

(b) It refers to 'In the Poem

 

(c) It refers to the stone movement that are often not cared for.

 

Q2. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

 

(a) When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

 

(b) And broils root out the work of masonry.

 

(c) Nor mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn The living record of your memory.

 

OF

 

wasteful war?

(b) What does the word 'mars' in the third line refer to?

 

(c) What does the phrase, The living record of your memory's mean?

 

Ans: (a)War is wasteful as it spreads death and destruction.

 

(b) It refers to the Roman God of war.

 

(c) It refers to the written document of the memory of the Poet's beloved, which continues even after death.

 

Q3. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

 

Gainst death and all oblivious enmity Shall you pace forth, your praise shall still find room, Even in the eyes of all posterity That wear this world out to the ending doom.

 

(a) What is meant by the word 'Gainst'?

 

(b) Explain "your praise shall still find room".

 

(c) What does the word 'Doom' refer to?

 

Ans: (a) It means against

 

(b) The poet wants to say that his beloved would receive praise by the future generation.

 

(c) It refers to the day of the last judgement.

 

Q4. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

 

So. till the judgement that yourself arise, You live in this and dwell in lover's eyes.

 

(a) 'you live in this'. What does 'this' refer to?

 

(b) When does the poet expect that his beloved shall arise?

 

(c) What is meant by the word 'dwell'?

 

Ans: (a) This refers to the poem.

 

(b) The poet's beloved shall arise on the final day of judgement.

 

(c) It means to remain or reside.

 

Q5. After reading the poem "Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments" what image of the poet is formed in your mind? What quality of the poet is revealed through the poem?

 

Ans: The poet creates an image of a great thinker in my mind. He is considered by me to be the greatest dramatist poet of all times. The poem has a musical quality that is height end still further by the use of alliteration. By the poem, he conveys the message that poetry is not affected by time, though marbled and gilded monuments are. Time and death can erase everything but not the words that come out from a true heart. The poet shows the depth of his thoughts by the poem.

 

He is an inspired poet, habitually building a world of imagination. We feel that he understands the present and the future as he says that his friend would be remembered and praised by future generations as his memories are preserved in words in the poem. He shows that written memories are immortal and everlasting. The poem also reveals the dedication of William Shakespeare to literature.

 

Q6. "When wasteful war shall statues overturn, And broils root out the work of masonry." War is destructive in nature. It does not see anything or anybody when it comes to leave villages, towns, cities and kingdoms empty and without people. Now, write an article on the topic "War is wasteful

 

Ans: War is Wasteful War is always wasteful, as it causes widespread death and destruction. It is never productive or creative to the society. It is fruitless in that it only kills happiness and hope for humanity. In the olden days, the greedy kings followed the way of war to extend their kingdoms and wealth. Their greed for power caused wars. Man's ego, lust for power and false boundaries of region, religion, caste, colour creed or language etc give birth to the evil of war

 

War is one of the biggest enemies for humanity, as it disturbs the natural life style of a human being. Nobody wins in war, as it does not give real happiness to anybody. Thousands of wars have been fought in human history and hundreds of kings gained power but to what use? They, too had to bend before death and depart from this world. Were they really the winners? Actually, they were not. They lost natural happiness that they could get only in peace

 

Q7. "But you shall shine more bright in these contents?" Comment.

 

Ans: Here, the poet addresses his friend or beloved. He assures her that she would survive in his poem after her death. He describes that neither marble nor the gold plated monuments of princes shall survive more than his strong short poem. He further says that the name of his beloved will shine more bright in these verses than on dust covered gravestones ravaged by time He shows his faith in his verse and expresses that marble monuments and gilded monuments of princes cannot provide the poet's friend the immortality that the poet's verses can. He tells his beloved that his poetry has the power to withstand time's destruction and to confer immortality. The poet knows that time would root out everything completely. But her sweet memories would keep on living forever in the hearts of future generations because she lies immortalized in his poem.

 

Q8. Write a note on the theme of the sonnet, "Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments."

 

Ans: The fifty fifth sonnet of the 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare is written in blank verse. The sonnet highlights the fact that everything would be destroyed some day. But the impression of words always survives in the hearts of the people. The poet feels great pleasure when he says that his beloved shall shine more brightly than all the marble structures or gold plated monuments. which are erected in the memories of powerful people

 

The poem exposes man's desire to be remembered and immortalized in an attempt to overcome death. Hence man get their statues and monuments built. They forget that these monuments are ravaged by time. The poem claims that time forgets everything and seeks to destroy everything. The poem also brings out his faith in his verse and discloses that the poet's beloved would receive praise and respect forever from the people.

 

Q9. Explain "Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme"

 

Ans: Here, the poet says that his poetry has great power. He tells that all the marble structures or gold plated monuments, which are erected in the memories of powerful people like the princes, cannot stand against the ravages of time. He believes that his beloved shall outlive these monuments.

 

Q10. What purpose do the statues and monuments serve?

 

Ans: A man wants to survive after his death in the form of a statue or a monument. The rich and powerful people believe that the future generations would remember them by these statues and monuments Hence, the statues and monuments built by some people keep their memories alive for future generations.

 

Q11. Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages of time.

 

Ans: With time, many factors have a destructive impact on buildings, houses and other structures.

 

These may be weather conditions like strong winds, rain, storms, snow etc. Mostly monuments and statues are made of strong materials like stone or metal, but they do get disfigured, worn out and damaged by weathering

 

Q12. Explain "Gainst death and all oblivious enmity".

 

Ans: The poet says that no enemy will get success over his beloved. Death and time forget everything and seek to destroy everything. But his friend would continue to live

 

Q13. Why does the poet refer to time as being sluttish?

 

Ans: Here the word sluttish means dirty or spoiled. Actually time spoils the marbled or gilded monuments, discolours them, breaks them or makes them dirty through its agents like winds, rain. Sunlight, etc. That is why time is called sluttish.

 

Q14. Why do you think the rich and powerful people get monuments and statues erected in their memory?

 

Ans: The rich and powerful people get monuments and statues erected in their memory so that they may be remembered by generations to come and their name be noted in history

 

Q15. How would wars prove ineffective in tarnishing the living record of 'your memory?

 

Ans: War always comes with destruction and death. It has nothing productive about it. It is a wasteful evil. But war cannot erase the name and fame of those personalities whose images exist in people's hearts. The poet knows that war would not destroy the written memory of his beloved's life

 

Q16. The poet says that neither forces of nature nor wars can destory his poetry. In fact, even godly powers of Mars will not have a devastating effect on his rhyme. What quality of the poet is revealed thought these lines?

 

Ans: The qualities of the poet revealed by these lines are dedication love and faith in immortality

of his poetry. It also reveals the confidence of the poet that he has the power to keep his friend's memory alive forever

Q17. How does the poet glorify the power of poetry?

 

Ans: The poet glorifies the power of poetry in an attractive manner He shows his faith in his poetry and describes that time and death cannot destroy it. The beauty of his poetry is more than that of the statues and gilded monuments of princes.

 

N. B. Sources: Google