Question

What does Shelley mean by the line "Our sincerest laughter / With some pain is fraught"?

• A. Human laughter is always joyful
• B. Laughter is a sign of strength
• C. Even in happiness, humans experience sorrow
• D. Pain and laughter are unrelated

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Even in happiness, humans experience sorrow

Shelley contrasts the pure, unblemished joy of the skylark with the emotional complexity of humans. In these lines, he reflects on how even our happiest moments (symbolized by “sincerest laughter”) are tinged with sadness or underlying pain. It highlights the poet’s belief that human emotions are never pure but always mixed, unlike the skylark’s apparent bliss.