Question

select the correct answer.
what is the meaning of the underlined phrase in this excerpt from sonnet 126 by william shakespeare?
o thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
dost hold time’s fickle glass, his sickle, hour;

a. time is changeable and inconsistent.
b. time and glass are immortal.
c. time is liable to break like glass.
d. time, like the glass or mirror, always reflects the truth.

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "Time's fickle glass", we analyze each option:

• Option A: "Fickle" implies changeable and inconsistent. Time's "fickle glass" suggests time is unsteady, matching the idea of changeability.
• Option B: The phrase doesn't imply time and glass are immortal.
• Option C: The focus isn't on time breaking like glass, but on its changeable nature.
• Option D: There's no indication of time reflecting truth like a mirror here.

Answer:

A. Time is changeable and inconsistent.