A song absent from thee

• Wilmot


  Restoration poet

  Known for his disreputable lifestyle

  His poetry was censored during the Victorian Era and his hedonism/libertinism I

  All have this idea of innate sexual desires
• A04:

  Satirical Poem
• Quote 1:

  'Absent from thee I languish still
• A02:

  Anastrophe

  Sibilance 'ish' sorrowful hyperbolic language encapsulates his suffering

  Being away from the subject (his love) gives him literary raw pain
• Quote 2:

  'Dear from thine arms the ley me flie
• A02:

  Speaker recognises his faults

  Depicts his inner turmoil - attempt to gain her approval so that he does not have e a guilty conscience
• Quote 3:

  'Weried with a world of Woe , To the safe Bosom I retire
• A02:

  Possible two subjects in this poem God or 'a lover' (ambiguous subject)

  Alliterative exhaustive 'w' sounds slowing down the pace sorrow?

  
  

  When he is away from God/subject the speaker suucumbs to his carnal desire and temptations

  
  

  Religious and sexual connotations
• Wheeler A05 Critc


  Rochester's tone is loving and tender and implies fidelity to his lover's
• A03:

  - The Restoration took place in the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1660 when King Charles Il returned from exile in Europe.

  - The period saw a new political settlement, and was seen by some as "a divinely ordained miracle" where there was sudden and unexpected deliverance from political chaos and a return to a perceived natural and divine order.

  The poem was written in the mid to late 1600s after Charles Il became King The repression felt by the people was lifted and swung to license; there was a new sense of freedom, this was seen both in speech and popular literary genres as well as in the reopening of theatres

  - Charles Il's reign is known as one of liveliness and new life.

  - Wilmot can be seen in the same light, known for his vivacity, freedom of speech, exploits with women and chaotic lifestyle. The speaker of the poem is frequently considered to be Wilmot himself, considering his choices and reflecting on the life he has chosen for himself.
• A03:

  - English poet and courtier of King Charles Il's Restoration court

  - Known for his disreputable lifestyle and poetry, which has meant that often his poetry is read in terms of how he lived his life.

  - Although he was praised contemporaneously by the likes of Andrew Marvell (an

  English Metaphysical poet, satirist and politician) who called him "the best English satirist", his poetry was censored during the Victorian era due to his libertinism (a lifestyle of self-indulgence and promiscuity).

  - Wilmot's unruly reputation meant there were concerns for his morals but he was a nihilistic atheist. This has alarmed and disturbed religious audiences since his publication.