‘To Althea, From Prison’ by Richard Lovelace

Question 1

What is the form of the poem?

Answer 1

‘To Althea, from Prison’ by Richard Lovelace is a four-stanza poem which is separated into sets of eight lines, or octaves.

Question 2

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

Answer 2

Each of these octaves follows a structured and consistent rhyming pattern of ababcdcd which alternates as the poet saw fit throughout each of the four
verses.

Question 3

What can the fixed rhyme be linked to? (2)

Answer 3

-The fixed rhyme scheme can be linked to the restriction he faced in prison.
-The lack of variation conveys the monotony and restricted circumstances in which
he found himself.

Question 4

What is the restriction further conveyed by?

Answer 4

This restriction is further conveyed by the use of iambic tetrameter (consisting of 8 syllables and 4 iambic feet), alternating with the use of iambic trimeter (consisting of 6 syllables and 3 iambic feet).

Question 5

What does the meter used in the poem create?

Answer 5

The meter creates a monotonous sound which captures the dull, unvarying circumstances of being imprisoned.

Question 6

First line - meter?

Second line - meter?

Answer 6

(Iambic Tetrameter)

Iambic Trimeter

Question 7

What does the poem describe?

Answer 7

The poem describes the speaker’s efforts at maintaining his freedom while imprisoned in Gatehouse Prison in 1642.

Question 8

What does line 1 suggest?

Answer 8

Line 1 suggests that the speaker’s imagination liberates him from his physical surroundings by using a metaphor comparing love with a bird.

Question 9

What does ‘love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates’ highlight?

Answer 9

‘love with unconfined wings hovers within my gates’ highlights the way the speaker imagines ‘Althea’ being ‘within my gates’.

Question 10

What are the connotations of divine?

Answer 10

The use of ‘divine’ has connotations of her being perceived as a goddess while ‘whisper at the grates’ provides connotations of intimacy conveying the idea that they are re-united through the power of his imagination.

Question 11

Who could Althea be?

Answer 11

Althea, which means healer, could be a reference to Lovelace’s fiancée, Lucy Sacheverell.
It suggests that she is a source of comfort for him.

Question 12

What does the line ‘[lying] tangled in her hair’ and being ‘fetter’d to her eye’ reinforce?

Answer 12

The reference to ‘[lying] tangled in her hair’ and being ‘fetter’d to her eye’ reinforces this intimacy of them being intertwined and the notion of him being shackled/imprisoned by her emotionally which is far preferable to his physical imprisonment.

Question 13

What connotations do ‘The Gods that wanton in the air’ offer?

Answer 13

The Gods that wanton in the air’ offers connotations of power while ‘wanton’ suggests the freedom they possess.

Question 14

The speaker suggests that the Gods that have this freedom do not have the ____ that he possesses.

Answer 14

‘Liberty

Question 15

What does the content of the poem deal with?

Answer 15

The content of the poem deals with the paradox of being free while in confinement.

Question 16

What power does the speaker have despite being in prison?

Answer 16

Even though he is in prison, he still has the power of the imagination to reflect on previous
occasions spent with friends.

Question 17

What does ‘flowing cups’ suggest?

Answer 17

‘flowing cups’ suggest convivial times with friends where drink flowed freely and offers connotations of camaraderie.

Question 18

What does repetition of ‘our’ reinforce?

Answer 18

The repetition of ‘our’ reinforces this sense of togetherness.

Question 19

What attitude is shown by the reference to ‘careless heads’?

Answer 19

There is a carefree attitude shown by the reference to ‘careless heads’ suggesting their lack of
concern and worry about their lives.

Question 20

What image does ‘roses crown’d’ provide?

Answer 20

‘roses crown’d’ provides an idyllic image of young men with wreaths on their head which conveys their youthfulness and idealism.

Question 21

Given Lovelace’s loyalty to King Charles 1, what does the reference to ‘hearts with loyal flames’ imply?

Answer 21

Given Lovelace’s loyalty to King Charles 1, the reference to ‘hearts with loyal flames’ implies the young men’s devout loyalty to the King.

Question 22

What does ‘thirsty grief in wine we steep’ suggest?

Answer 22

‘thirsty grief in wine we steep’ suggests that these young men are drowning their sorrows and proposing toasts shown by, ‘when healths and draughts go free –’. This conveys the idea that these men are toasting the king unreservedly and are drinking to cope with their grief at the state of the country.

Question 23

What does the dash at the end of line 14 provoke?

Answer 23

The dash at the end of line 14 is to provoke thought regarding what the speaker has said before the next lines which suggest the extent of their freedom in comparison to ‘fishes’.

Question 24

What figure of speech is ‘Fishes that tipple in the deep’?

Answer 24

‘Fishes that tipple in the deep’ is a metaphor which compares fish consuming water in the ocean to these young men that are consuming wine.

Question 25

What does the repetition of ‘Know no such liberty’ reinforce?

Answer 25

The repetition of ‘Know no such liberty’ reinforces the notion that the speaker cannot be mentally and emotionally imprisoned and is accompanied by a tone of defiance.

Question 26

We are reminded of the ___ that exists within the speaker’s situation.

Answer 26

paradox

Question 27

What is the simile in the beginning of stanza three?

Answer 27

The stanza begins with the speaker using a simile in which he compares himself to ‘committed linnets.’ A linnet is a song-bird and the use of ‘committed’ means imprisoned in this context. Thus, their position is similar – both the speaker and the bird are imprisoned.

Question 28

What does the speaker is suggest about the way in which him and linnet sing?

Answer 28

The speaker is suggesting that just as the linnet sings with mellifluous, harmonious sounds, he will sing with similar intensity of the ‘majesty and glories of my King’.

Question 29

How does his display of defiance continue in this stanza? (2)

Answer 29

-His display of defiance continues in this stanza as he has already been imprisoned because of his
support for the king but will not be cowed.
-He will continue to be openly supportive of King Charles 1 reflected in ‘When I shall voice aloud how good he is,’ as well as ‘how great’ he anticipates he will be in the future.

Question 30

What does the reference to ‘enlarged winds’ create an image of? (2)

Answer 30

• The reference to ‘enlarged winds’ creates an image of an all-powerful wind that can push bodies of water back and ‘curl the flood’ because of its immense force.
• This comparison suggests that the speaker’s voice will be as powerful (which suggests that he will make his views heard) and as forceful as the wind as he ‘voice[s] aloud’ how great King Charles is.

Question 31

What does the refrain of ‘Know no such liberty’ amplify?

Answer 31

The refrain of ‘Know no such liberty’ amplifies his notion that he is freer than this force of nature because his thoughts cannot be restricted.

Question 32

What is the shift from the beginning of each stanza with ‘when’?

Answer 32

Notice the shift from the beginning of each stanza with ‘When’ which suggests that when the speaker imagines the images he has provided in previous stanzas, he is able to escape his physical imprisonment to his confirmation that ‘Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.’

Question 33

How is the speaker assertive in his statement?

Answer 33

The speaker is assertive in his statement that despite his physical surroundings, he cannot be mentally or emotionally imprisoned.

Question 34

He suggests that if you have a mind which is_____ (untroubled) and quiet’ that you will
find sanctuary in being imprisoned similar to a_____ (a secluded cottage).

Answer 34

‘innocent’

‘hermitage’

Question 35

What does the speaker believe about being imprisoned?

Answer 35

Thus, the speaker believes that being imprisoned gives him the opportunity to use his imagination to transcend his situation and escape the physical confines he is currently experiencing.

Question 36

What idea does he express in the final stanza?

Answer 36

He expresses the idea that as long as he has freedom of emotion and of being, then he perceives himself as being as free as the angels that soar above him.

Question 37

Comment on the The shift in refrain from ‘Know no such Liberty’ to ‘Enjoy such liberty’.

Answer 37

The shift in refrain from ‘Know no such Liberty’ to ‘Enjoy such liberty’ suggests that his freedom is no different to that of the angels.