The phrase ‘heart fit to break’ links to the iambic tetrameter breaking as the speaker’s heart is breaking, and so does the pattern. Form is used to tell the story of ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ as the rhyme scheme shows the instability of both their relationship, and the lover’s apparent lack of sanity, whilst the iambic tetrameter shows that Porphyria’s lover is heartbroken because of this. The structure of the poem is another useful aspect that Browning uses to tell the story. ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ has been written in one long stanza, rather than in lots of stanzas. This not only builds up the excitement in the reader, but also builds tension as to what the lover will do and when.
The poem Valentine is an extended metaphor about how the unromantic properties of the onion fit the notion of love. Each individual stanza shows the different phases of love and how it begins with all the best intentions yet gradually changes into misunderstandings and violence. This is shown in the poem at the start as it says “it promises light” showing that it will eventually lead to something positive as the light represents a positive connotation. However towards the end of the poem it is shown to be quite violent as Duffy says “Lethal” which connotates something deadly or fatal that usually causes death therefore portraying the negative contrast to the poem. The structure of the poem has been manipulated to emphasise Duffy's key points.
For ATP, in the first couplet, the speaker is angry at his friend; in the second, at his foe. This difference immediately makes the simple poem less simple. As we continue on reading the couplets are beautifully rhyme, meter and show the importance of the purpose which is tolerance and forgiveness. In TMVTL rhyme is not respect and it too sentimental. The central idea is there but not coherent.
“Monologue for an Onion” is a poem by Suji Kwock Kim that is separated into 10 triplets. The poem describes the “chopping” of a metaphorical onion. The onion is one side or one person in a rocky relationship between lovers who are struggling to find peace and balance. The first triplet tells how someone is being emotionally hurt by their companion, the “onion”, and is “crying” (l. 1), but continues to stick with him or her, getting to know them more and more by “peeling away my body, layer by layer” (l. 3). The lover continues to get closer and closer, “peeling away” (l. 3) the layers of his or her companion, the “husks, cut flesh, all the debris of pursuit” (l. 5) piling up.
The poem’s theme appears to be about unrequited love and a man wooing his “coy mistress” to sleep with him, but this poem does has a deeper meaning, which is really impressive and therefore is striking. The theme of mortality is highlighted in this poem through word choice and by using imagery which reinforces the idea of death. Words relating to death such as “ ashes” and “grave” are used to emphasise the lack of time that we have and the stark contrast between the slow, idyllic first stanza and the sped up, heavier second stanza shows the difference between the idealistic eternity and the reality that we are all mortal and have to die at some point. Another deeper theme introduced is the idea of “carpe diem” which is shown through the lustier language in the poem, word choice such as “time devour”, and also through the quickened pace of the second stanza. The speaker is not simply asking the “coy mistress” to sleep with him, what he is saying is if there was all the time in the world then life would be ideal but there is not so they have to live for the moment.
The poem “With His Venom” illustrates romantic love that is described as bittersweet (Sappho, page.772, line 3). However, in the poems “Golden Bells” and “Remembering Golden Bells” Po Chu-i speaks about the love of a father and child, which can also be construed as bittersweet. First, “With His Venom” is a poem about love and the pain that comes with it. The poem begins by saying ‘“With his venom”’ (Sappho, p.772, line 1). Here she uses the word venom to illustrate a perception of love.
He quickly begins to mention how short life is even referencing her ‘preserved virginity’ being taken when she’s dead as ‘worms shall try.’ He finishes by focusing on the present and telling her to make the most of the time that they have now, which hints at the use of sexual innuendo. The speaker presents an argument in these three parts, however there are several layers of meaning to this poem. To his coy mistress is a poem, and ghazal is an ancient poet form often used to explain the beauty and pain of love. ‘If you are the rhyme and I the refrain,’ this is use of music to describe to describe fate and the feeling of eagerness is unnecessary as she is aware that when the time is right they will become one with each other. It also has several forms of sexual innuendo similar to ‘to his coy mistress’
‘A Valediction’ explores the importance of the balance between physical and spiritual love. Harwood explores the nature of both form of love and how each is needed to develop ultimate love. Harwood suggests that poetry can offer comfort and deepen the human understanding of life and love. In ‘The Sharpness of Death’ Harwood explores the nature of love, life and death, and the relationship between each. Harwood highlights the extreme contrast in ones perception of love, life and death when influenced by either philosophy or poetry.
Rosaline is unobtainable, just like Juliet was at first. Romeo's words for his love for Rosaline are very insincere and he discusses his love for Rosaline using sad language "Aye me sad hours seem long", "In sadness, cousin, I love a woman." When Benvolio asks who he loves, Romeo does not give a straight answer but instead complains that she does not return his love "From Love's weak childish bow she lives uncharmed."
The tone in the opening lines of a work of literature set up the reader to guess what the work will be about. If the opening lines are filled with angry damnation, the reader might guess that the work will be a sermon. If the opening lines are really sad, the reader would guess the work will be about something that upsets the author. The satire “A Modest Proposal”, by Jonathan Swift, does not quite follow this rule. The opening lines present a terrible tragedy in Ireland, so the reader quickly assumes that this work would be grim or present a justifiable solution to fix the problem.