How is human joy different from the skylark's joy in “To a Skylark”?
A. Human joy is not heard by others.
B. A skylark has joy only when flying.
C. A skylark's joy is based on unlimited freedom.
D. Human joy is always touched by sorrow.
To determine how human joy is different from the skylark's joy in "To a Skylark," we can start by analyzing the poem itself. "To a Skylark" is a poem written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, where the speaker expresses their admiration for the skylark's seemingly boundless joy and its ability to inspire them.
Option A states that human joy is not heard by others. However, this is not true for the human joy described in the poem or in general. In the poem, the speaker contrasts their own feelings of joy with the skylark's joy, implying that others can perceive human joy.
Option B claims that a skylark has joy only when flying. This is supported by the poem's emphasis on the skylark's freedom and joy in flight. However, this doesn't explicitly point out a difference between human joy and skylark's joy.
Option C suggests that a skylark's joy is based on unlimited freedom. This observation aligns with the themes of the poem, as Shelley emphasizes the skylark's ability to soar and sing freely. In contrast, human joy can be influenced by various factors and is not solely based on unlimited freedom. Therefore, this option presents a possible difference between human joy and skylark's joy.
Option D states that human joy is always touched by sorrow. To determine if this is a valid difference, we need to carefully consider the poem's content. While the skylark's joy is portrayed as pure and unadulterated, there is no explicit mention in the poem that human joy is constantly accompanied by sorrow. Therefore, this option cannot be categorically confirmed as a difference between human joy and the skylark's joy.
In light of the analysis above, the option that best reflects a difference between human joy and the skylark's joy in "To a Skylark" is:
C. A skylark's joy is based on unlimited freedom.