love's philosophy

• 'The fountains mingle with the river/ And the rivers with the Ocean'

  • enjambment
  • by pairing features from nature and personifying them as they were human lovers, the poet drives home the naturalness of being in love
• 'See the mountains kiss high Heaven/ And the waves clasp one another'

  • physical language hints at his frustration, he can't 'kiss' or 'clasp' his lover
• 'And the sunlight clasps the earth/ And the moonbeams kiss the sea'

  • anaphora highlights how many examples he can show of unity in nature
• 'what are all these kissings worth,/ if thou kiss not me?'

  • questions point of world is lover doesn't love him, suggesting love gives life meaning
  • question uses hyperbole to try and persuade her
  • persona in final line in final stanza is monosyllabic, only 5 syllables, increasing impact of question being asked, leaves space for her to respond
• 'The winds of Heaven mix for ever/ with a sweet emotion'

  • personification suggests that nature enjoys and benefits from this union
  • 'river' and 'ever' are para rhymes, as are 'heaven' and 'forgiven' in second stanza- reflects lack of unity between couple
• 'Nothing in the world is single;/ in one another's being mingle-/Why not I with thine'

  • sums up persona's argument
  • persona thinks everything in nature mingles together- it is sacred
  • dash is pause which emphasises rhetorical question at end of each stanza
• sibilance is used throughout, sounds create soft romantic tone, even more in 2nd stanza, kissing making sound
• masculine rhyme scheme

  • 'single' and 'mingle'
  • 'heaven' and 'forgiven'
  • 'earth' and 'worth'
• feminine rhyme scheme

  • 'ocean' and 'emotion'
  • 'divine' and 'thine'
  • 'another' and 'brother'
  • 'sea' and 'me'
• Who wrote the poem "Love's Philosophy"?

  Percy Shelley
• What is the main theme of "Love's Philosophy"?

  A male speaker persuading a female listener
• How does "Love's Philosophy" relate to other poems in its theme?

  It continues the theme of romantic persuasion
• What does the poet's background contribute to understanding the poem?

  His life experiences influence the poem's themes
• When was Percy Shelley born?

  1792
• What literary movement is Percy Shelley associated with?

  The Romantic movement
• What was a significant consequence of Shelley's atheism?

  He was expelled from university
• Who did Percy Shelley elope with?

  A 16-year-old girl
• What tragic event occurred shortly after Shelley married Mary Shelley?

  His first wife committed suicide
• How did Percy Shelley die?

  He drowned at sea
• How was Shelley viewed during his lifetime as a writer?

  He was not very successful
• What distinguishes the second generation of Romantics from the first?

  They wanted to set themselves apart
• What are the three main conventions of Romantic poetry?

  Dislike of urban life, love of nature, everyday language
• How does "Love's Philosophy" fit the conventions of Romantic poetry?

  It focuses on nature and uses simple language
• What does the first stanza of "Love's Philosophy" illustrate?

  Natural unity among elements
• What is the significance of the line "what are all these kisses worth if thou kiss not me"?

  It emphasizes the speaker's desire for connection
• How does the poem's structure contribute to its meaning?

  It presents a two-part argument for unity
• Why is "Love's Philosophy" often read at weddings?

  It is seen as a romantic verse
• What does the use of religious imagery in the poem suggest?

  It may indicate a satirical tone
• What is a dramatic monologue?

  A poem with a single speaker addressing a silent listener
• How does the poem's form affect the reader's perception of the speaker?

  It presents him as demanding and domineering
• What is the ambiguity in interpreting the speaker's character?

  His intentions can be seen as both romantic and coercive
• What is the primary focus of lyric poetry?

  Expressing thoughts and feelings
• How does the poem challenge the reader's interpretation?

  It allows for multiple interpretations of the speaker's motives
• What does the silent listener in a dramatic monologue represent?

  The audience's perspective on the speaker
• How does the poem relate to the dramatic monologue form?

  It features a speaker addressing a silent listener
• What is the primary interpretation of the poem according to critics?

  Most critics classify it as a lyric poem
• What does the speaker's direct questioning imply about his character?

  He appears demanding and domineering
• What is the significance of the speaker's one-sided conversation?

  It highlights the man's controlling nature
• Which two poems are compared to the poem discussed?

  John Donne's "The Flea" and Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"
• What humorous argument is presented in "The Flea"?

  Blood mingling in a flea justifies sex