Which occasion or circumstance leads the speaker to the thoughts in sonnet vii by john milton?

(important) Please include the entire question when asking a question. Fortunately I was able to find it myself.

Which occasion or circumstance leads the speaker to the thoughts in Sonnet VII by John Milton?

For Grad point users the (Correct) answer is "a birthday".

I just took the test and got it correct. I provided a screenshot is below for proof.

(Answer choices)

a new career

✓  

a birthday

a fight

a spring day

Explanation: Take a look at the poem and make your own inferences.

Read the passage.

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,

Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!

My hasting days fly on with full career,

But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth.

Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,

That I to manhood am arrived so near,

And inward ripeness doth much less appear,  

That some more timely-happy spirits endueth.

Which occasion or circumstance leads the speaker to the thoughts in Sonnet VII by John Milton?

Here is the way I worked through it.

We can inspect the answer choice: "new career". In the third line it says my "hasting days fly on with a full career." Despite this it doesn't mention anything about a new career in all the lines so we can rule it out.

After reading through the poem we can infer that there are no 'fighting words' or acts of violence. Therefore it's NOT "a fight".

Next we can inspect the answer choice: "new career". In the third line it says my "hasting days fly on with a full career." Despite this it doesn't mention anything about a 'new' career in all the lines so we can rule it out.

It's also not "a spring day". It does mention "But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth." However after reading the lines over you can tell he is referring to himself. This means he is getting old and he feels its effects.

It's clear that the answer is "a birthday" because it is mentioned right off the bat how time has essentially stolen his youth in his three and twentieth year. This suggests he is 23 years of age now. He is reflecting on his birthday and how his age is robing of his productivity.

P.S. "I would be at your utmost thanks if you gave this answer the brainiest. First of all, it's correct. next it's informative and well thought out. As for anyone else giving it 5 stars and thanks are also very important".

Screenshot is included for extra proof.

Answers can also be found using this link.  

Thank You!

"the monkey's paw" is a rare story in that the theme is actually stated in the story. sgt. maj. morris tells the whites that the old fakir who put the spell on the paw said, "fate rules people's lives and those who interfere with fate do so to their sorrow." the message is a warning, but mr. white doesn't believe it. even though sgt. maj. morris makes it clear that he tried wishing with unfortunate results and he tries to throw the paw on the fire,   mr. white makes a wish for 200 pounds only to find that he receives the money when herbert dies in a factory accident. according to the fakir, then, because mr. white had wished for something he should not have had, his son lost his life.

the second wish that mrs. white encourages him to make is for herbert's return--one week after his death. when the strange knocking begins at the door during the windy night, mr. white panicks, believing that the previously dead but still mangled herbert could have walked home from the cemetary and is now at the door. because he fears what his wife will find if she opens the door, mr. white makes his third wish--for the noise to stop.

therefore, he uses his three wishes and to his sorrow, loses his son and disappoints his wife, who fervently believed that their son was at the door. she wanted him back, regardless of his condition.

explanation: