Question

select the correct answer.
how does the following poem express the beliefs of the humanist movement?
sonnet 4 from astrophil and stella
by sir philip sidney
virtue, alas, now let me take some rest.
thou set’st a bate between my will and wit.
if vain love have my simple soul oppress’d,
leave what thou likest not, deal not thou with it.
thy scepter use in some old cato’s breast;
churches or schools are for thy seat more fit.
i do confess, pardon a fault confess’d,
my mouth too tender is for thy hard bit.
but if that needs thou wilt usurping be,
the little reason that is left in me,
and still th’effect of thy persuasions prove:
i swear, my heart such one shall show to thee
that shrines in flesh so true a deity,
that virtue, thou thyself shalt be in love.
a. it emphasizes the fulfillment of worldly love.
b. it mentions religious institutions such as the catholic church.
c. it emphasizes the superiority of virtue.
d. it uses reason to make its point.

Explanation:

To determine how the poem expresses humanist beliefs, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The poem's focus isn't on worldly love fulfillment. It discusses the conflict between virtue, will, and love, and ends with the idea that virtue itself will love the beloved (who is a "deity in flesh"), emphasizing the value of the human (the beloved) and the emotional/worldly aspect of love's importance in human experience, which aligns with humanism's focus on human values and worldly fulfillment.
• Option B: Mentioning religious institutions (churches) is just a line about where virtue is more fit, not the core of expressing humanist beliefs.
• Option C: The poem doesn't emphasize virtue's superiority; it shows a conflict with virtue and a desire for rest from it, and the ending suggests virtue will be in love with the human beloved, so it's more about human value than virtue's superiority.
• Option D: While "reason" is mentioned, the main point isn't using reason to make a point but expressing the human desire for love and the value of the human beloved.

So, the poem emphasizes the fulfillment of worldly love as a human value, consistent with humanism.

Answer:

A. It emphasizes the fulfillment of worldly love.