Sonnet to Science (question answers & summary)

 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,

   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?

sonnet-to-science-by-edgar-allan-poe

Summary:

Science, by enforcing reality and its dull truth, takes away from the abilities of poets. A poet cannot love or respect Science because it would rather study the stars than listen to his fancies. Because of Science, the old myths about nymphs and nature have lost their power, and poets can no longer dream easily.

Introduction to the poet:

 was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. Poe was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story, and considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributer to the emerging genre of science fiction. Poe was the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Question and answers:

Q.1  Who is the true daughter of old time?

Ans. Science is the true daughter of old time.

Q.2  What may be the reason for science to prey upon the poet's heart?

Ans. Poetry is based on imagination where as science is based on facts so it checks the flight of poet. This is the reason for science to prey upon the poet's heart.

Q.3  Which goddess is dragged by science from her car?

Ans. Diana, the goddess of moon was dragged by science from her car.

Q.4  Which nymph have been driven by science from the wood?

Ans. The nymph Hamadryad  have been driven by science from the wood.

Q.5  In not more than twenty-words, make a list of the qualities that the poet associates with science?

Ans. The qualities that the poet associate with science are-

         It is based on facts.

         It has changed all the previous beliefs based on imagination.