Love's Philosophy

fountains (intense desire)

the fountains mingle with the river

• start of poem, low desire as shown with intimate verb ‘mingle’ - not too extreme

• reference to ‘fountains’ and natural imagery (common trait of romantic poems)portrays the poets message that love is natural

moonbeams (intense desire)

the moonbeams kiss the sea

• ‘moonbeams’ portray his overwhelming passion, as the poem progresses his desire and passion grows. even during the night he’s full of passion

• physical verb ‘kiss’ is more extreme than previously before with ‘mingle’, this growth in intensity could reflect his desperation of wanting to be with her physically

single (natural to be in relationship)

nothing in the world is single

• states his argument, through the poem he’s reducing the massive, illogical concept of love into a straightforward plea

• all his statements have this idea in common of how everything in nature is connected to

• this idea is mirrored in the regular ABAB rhyme scheme, the paired rhymes help to reflect unity

divine (natural to be in relationship)

all things by a law divine

• perhaps this use of religious imagery is used to present Shelley’s love for this person as a part of God’s plan, even though she doesn’t understand it she should go along with it. This is probably method of persuasion as Shelley was an atheist

• stated as a universal truth, and can’t argue against it

kiss? (unrequited love)

what are all these kissings worth, if thou kiss not me?

• poem ends with a question, shows lack of completion + disappointment, his love is still unrequited.

• Ending in a question also fits with the persuasive style of the poem

• last line is monosyllabic, which reinforces the speaker’s argument

• repetition of ‘kiss’ throughout the poem emphasis the speaker’s desire and determination