swgnmar2

The use of alliteration in the poem

"though the night was made for loving and the day returns too soon"

the repetition of the "t" sound creates a rhythmic nature, reflecting the fleeing nature of love and the inevitability of time.

Example of a metaphor

"the sword outwears its sheath"

Byron uses the metaphor of a sword to represent human life. Like a sword, the person is dulled and worn down by use over time, the sword (person) is no longer useful. This metaphor conveys the idea that human life is finite and that one's youth and vitality will eventually fade away.

Also very erotic and phallic suggesting that the sword, the penis, is still active but the sheath, the speakers body is tired

"though the night was made for loving, and the day returns too soon, yet well go no more a roving by the light of the moon"

the speaker compares his former activities of "roving" to a flame that burns brightly but will eventually die out. The metaphor of the flame reflects the transient nature of human life

Example of assonance in the poem

Assonant, "o" s in the opening line creates a moaning effect, implies that the poet is tired

Example of syntactic parallelism

Creates a satisfying, gentle rhythm, ironically lyrical given that the speaker is complaining about the after effects of "roving" perhaps suggesting the fact that beneath the weariness there is still vitality

"and the heart must pause to breathe,
And Love itself have rest"

the personification of the heart alludes to the Romantic idea of the "heart" being more than just an abstract thing and is in fact very important and therefore must rest or "pause to breathe."

"though the night was made for loving"

the use of the conjunction "though" demonstrates his backtracking

"by the light of the moon"

the moon was once "bright" and now only gives off "light" highlighting the lack of desire Byron has for partying or "roving" now that he is getting older.

Context

"We'll go no more a-roving" is a poem included in a letter Byron wrote to his friend Thomas Moore (February 28, 1817), explaining that "I find 'the sword wearing out the scabbard,' though I have but just turned the corner of twenty nine." Byron was a very famous socialite, present at parties throughout "the season." This poem is about his breaking off all such activities

the structure

the poem is made up of three quatrains of four lined stanzas. There is a regular interlocking ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza. The metrical rhythm is a mix of anapests- two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable - and imabs- one unstressed followed by a stressed syllable. The effect is light-hearted suitable for a jaunty poem about overindulgence.