WAEC 2023 Literature in English · Question 16

Thy love ne'er alter, till thy sweet life end.' implies

Options

  1. A.an enduring love
  2. B.a family love
  3. C.an undying love
  4. D.a fickle love

Answer: A. an enduring love

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question

The line "Thy love ne'er alter, till thy sweet life end" comes from a poem (often linked to Shakespeare's sonnet-style language, where a speaker pleads for constant love). You are asked what the line implies about the love described.

Explain the concept

In poetry, archaic words carry the meaning:

  • Thy = your
  • ne'er = never
  • alter = change
  • till thy sweet life end = until your life comes to an end

Step-by-step solution

  1. Paraphrase the line: "Your love should never change until your life ends."
  2. This describes love that lasts and stays constant throughout a person's lifetime. It is a love that remains steady up to death.
  3. Check the options: • A. an enduring love: Fits. "Enduring" means lasting, remaining constant over time, up to the end of life. • B. a family love: Nothing in the line points to family. • C. an undying love: This looks close, but "undying" suggests love that continues beyond death or never ends at all. The line sets a limit: "till thy sweet life end." The love lasts for the lifetime, not beyond it. • D. a fickle love: Fickle means changeable, the exact opposite of "ne'er alter."
  1. So the best answer is A, because the love is expected to last through life and remain unchanged until life's end.

Answer: A. an enduring love

Tip: In literature questions, pay attention to the exact limiting words. Here, "till thy sweet life end" sets a boundary, so "enduring" (lasting through life) fits better than "undying" (never dying). Also, translate old English words into plain modern English first, and the meaning becomes much clearer.

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