Song, Holy Sonnet 10, Meditation 17 / John Donne

Test Practice

Determine Author’s Purpose

With your partner, discuss how to answer these questions about the selection.

1. Why does the speaker list seven impossible tasks at the beginning of the selection?
a. to challenge the reader to try to do these things.
b. as an explanation for the irritated or tired tone of the poem
c. as a comparison to the impossible task of finding a woman who is both fair and true
d. to show the amazing feats he has accomplished


How does information you gather as you read help you eliminate incorrect answers?

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