Love's Philosophy

Question 1

Brief summary

Answer 1

speaker puts forward argument trying to persuade lover to kiss him.

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

Percy Shelley was expelled from Oxford after contributing to a pamphlet on Atheism in 1800s

Question 3

Philosophical argument structure

Answer 3

every argument ends in a rhetorical question. this is very convincing and persuasive as he uses evidence before asking a direct question.

Question 4

Rhetorical question stanza ending

Answer 4

makes her feel guilty as he is almost pittying his situation. laying everything out and demanding an answer. very one sided only his point of view as she has no voice and can’t respond. links to context where women had no voice.

Question 5

Semantic field of embrace

Answer 5

repeated verbs of “kiss” “clasp” “mingle” are all euthamisms for sex which would have been deemed inappropriate in 1800s.

Question 6

Natural Imagery

Answer 6

“the winds of heaven mix for ever”
god accepts and supports romantic love so is using god as a way of persuading her to kiss him. “mix” euthamism for sex which juxtaposes realigion and sex. uses god to persuade er but context he doesn’t belive in god. overcome with intense romantic emotions not exactly physical

Question 7

physical imagery

Answer 7

“law divine” making it seem like a law that she is going against the law by not loving and being affectionate with him. this puts added pressure on her and makes her feel she has too. she is almost going against the natural order as divine has realigious celestial connotations

Question 8

quotes

Answer 8

“law divine”
“the winds of heaven mix for ever”
“why not i with thine”