This ppt is provided to those students who are studying the arts & humanities. It is also beneficial for those who are interested in literature. Hopefully I have uploaded it

1. By John Clare
Prepared by
Dr. Korde Rajabhau Chhaganrao
Assistant Professor,
Kalikadevi Arts, Commerce and Science College
Shirur Kasar Dist. Beed.

2. Background of the Author:
John Clare was a poor agricultural laborer born in
England, John Clare’s ‘First Love’ is one of the best-
known and best-loved poems by John Clare.
He was born in 1793, the great English Romantic poet.
He had become delusional, and imagined himself to have
married Mary Joyce. John Clare spent the rest of his life in
the mental asylum and eventually died in 1864.
The poem “First Love” was written by John Clare about
his first love, Mary Joyce.

3. Background of the poem:
This poem is about Clare’s love for Mary Joyce whom
he met in his native village.
She was the daughter of a wealthy farmer who would
not allow the relationship.
He later married another young woman and had a
family, but their relationship was never particularly
happy.

4. Poem:
First Love I ne’er was struck before that hour With love so sudden
and so sweet, Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower And stole
my heart away complete. My face turned pale as deadly pale. My
legs refused to walk away, And when she looked, what could I ail?
My life and all seemed turned to clay. And then my blood rushed
to my face And took my eyesight quite away, The trees and bushes
round the place Seemed midnight at noonday. I could not see a
single thing, Words from my eyes did start – They spoke as chords
do from the string, And blood burnt round my heart. Are flowers
the winter’s choice? Is love’s bed always snow? She seemed to
hear my silent voice, Not love’s appeals to know. I never saw so
sweet a face As that I stood before. My heart has left its dwelling-
place And can return no more.

5. Summary of the poem:
First Love refers to John Clare’s first love and how he
didn’t manage to stay with that love.
He expresses how tragic he had felt about love; the first
love that had no future.
He also describes the painful experience he had when he
mentions words such as “blood” which symbolizes the
agony and all the suffering he went through without his one
true love.
This poem can be seen to be an irregular poem as it starts
off with a happy feeling of love. However, as the poem
progresses, it gets blood-stained with sorrow and pain since
he cannot be with her.

6. Literary devices & its significance:
Many forms of figurative language such as metaphors,
personifications and hyperboles were used to show the
negative impacts of love throughout the poem.
Face turned pale a deadly pale and stole my heart
away show that Love shocked him as if he was a dead
ghost and as if life was taken away from him.
He can no longer live. Love has scared Clare and he
cannot act normal anymore.

7. Life and all seemed turned to clay and took my
eyesight quite away
 Are all negative and depressing too. It is as if love
has modeled him like clay and destroyed Clare and he
cannot see anymore
Clare is not only blinded by love, but also very
affected by it too.

8. First Love compared with The Voice Hardy
makes use of various figurative devices to reflect
his feelings.
Stanza one and two talk about our fair days.
He uses calm and happy phrases to show their
period of love.
The Woman’s air-blue gown has connotations
with summer and the happiness it brings. While,
stanza three describes the complete opposite.

9. First Love compared with SONNET 43
This poem looks at the emotions evolving around
sudden love while "Sonnet 43" focuses on the devotion
and maturity of a more experienced lover.
"Sonnet 43", the narrator views love as something
that has to be build from a trusting friendship.
"First love" is a romantic love that is inspired by a
brief visual attraction rather than the love that grows as
a result of friendship and familiarity.

10. In "First love", the narrator views love as something
physical.
This poem is dealt with spiritual love.
 Poet has been narrated his own experience.
 It is concern with the real life of the poet.
Deep and true love regarding his beloved.

11. THANK YOU