poetry anthology summaries/themes

who so list:

• man despairingly n viciously pursuing/’hunting’ a woman he’s in love with

• love n loss

• sexuality n violence

• unrequited love

sonnet 116:

• love exists regardless of societal expectations on it

• love is unaffected by things that human fall to eg time

the flea:

• metaphysical seduction poem using image of a flea sucking both their blood

to his coy mistress:

• carpe diem metaphysical poem

• time is short, they should have sex

the scrutiny:

• carpe diem

• dramatic monologue

• explaining why he is forswearing (abandoning) his promise to the lady whom he spent the night w that he’d be hers

a song (absent from thee):

• the speaker aims to persuade his lover to let him sleep around

the garden of love:

• criticism of organised religion

• argues that religion should focus on love, freedom n joy, not rules and restrictions

  • garden in childhood = nice, now = not sm

song (ae fond kiss):

• laments parting of 2 lovers and distance between them

• bidding farewell whilst also upset

she walks in beauty:

• speaker talks of the beauty of the subject, interior and exterior

• utilises imagery, primarily

remember:

• accepts the end of a relationship

• reminisces and hopes to be remembered

• love can extend beyond life w/ memories

the ruined maid:

• promiscuous woman

• sexual double standards

• social commentary, satire

at an inn:

• relationship is unsuccessful, yet the pair is perceived as a perfect match by others

• relationship: romantic?, lacking passion

la belle dame sans merci. a ballad:

• deceptive nature of love

• line between imagination and reality challenged

non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno cynarae:

• turmoil of lost love n pain of absence