This document provides an analysis of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Love's Philosophy" through discussion of its poetic devices, language, structure, imagery, and context. It notes that the alternating rhyme scheme suggests an attempt at coupling. Dramatic elements convey the speaker's personal perspective and growing distress. References to nature position love as something natural and varying in its qualities. The analysis explores how specific linguistic aspects, such as rhetorical questions, verbs, repetition, and shifts in tone and rhythm are used to convince the addressee and convey meaning. Contextual details about Shelley and the social norms of romantic relationships at the time are also presented.

1. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –Love’sPhilosophy P.7
Poetic devices and their effects – form
(ballad,sonnet,free verse, dramatic monologue),
alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia,
Alternate linesrhymes Suggestsa proximity inthe relationshiporan
attemptat coupling– buildsto‘me’asthe most
importantthing.
Dramatic monologue We see hisverypersonal take on their
relationshipandhisgrowingangerandgrief
Alliterationof highHeaven Suggestsa sense of divinityandlove beingas
exaltedasGod
Language and its effects – what sortof words
are in the poem? Violent, loving, colloquial,archaic,
semantic fields,diction,religious,romantic language
Semanticfieldsof nature ‘fountains,rivers,winds’ Suggests thatlove is as natural and normal as nature –
also suggests the differentqualities oflove – rushing,
gushing,forceful etc...
Rhetorical questions –‘Whynot I withthine?If
thoukissnot me?’
Both questionsimplyapersuasiveendtothe
argumentineach stanza– the addressee should
fall forthe speaker’sskill.
Physical verbs –kiss,clasp Sense thatthe speakeristryingto implore the
addressee onasensual basisandsuggestthe
physical
Alternative interpretations – Can quotations
be read in two ways for different meanings?
‘The windsof Heavenmix forever’ Has allusions to the Gardenof Eden andmenand womenin
their purest state oftogetherness – or could suggest a unity
in God’s love, which shouldbe matched in earthlylove.
‘sunlightclaspsthe earth’ She wouldgive lightandwarmthto hisheart.Or
he needsherto survive.

2. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –Love’sPhilosophy P.7
Structure and its effects – tonal shifts,pace,
caesura,whatrhyme stresses,beginning, middle,end,
repetition,dialogue and where it happens,enjambment
Enjambmentinthe firstfourlines Suggeststhe actual mixingtogetherof nature and
howeffortlessandcontinuousit is.
Disruptedrhythmof ‘nosisterflower...brother One line has10 syllablesandone line has7in
comparisontothe previoustwolinesof 8 –
suggestsa disorderanddisruptionif nature didn’t
act in tandem.
Repetitionof mingle andclasp
Movesfrom a feelingof togethernesstostressing
a physical closenessandintimacy
Tone and its effects – talking aboutmoods
which are evoked and where, narrative voice
Softtone evokedatthe start with‘sweet
emotion’
Suggeststhere isa gentle correctness tothe way
nature combineswithone another - natural
Firmtone of ‘Nothing’and‘all’ Stressesthe unnatural sense of isolationof
lonelinessandforcesthe addressee tosee the
strengthof belief of the speaker
The final definitivetone of the lastrhetorical
question
Has a sense of desperate longingandpressure –
one lastattemptat convincinghavinglaidoutthe
argument
Imagery and its effects - metaphor,simile,
personification,visual sense
‘the mountainskiss’ Personificationwhich showsthe solidityof the
loverandhisstrength
‘moonbeamskiss’ Delicate image suggestsatendernessinthe
lover’stouch
‘wavesclasp’ His love isvastlike the sea

3. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –Love’sPhilosophy P.7
Context – authorial,social and historical
Percy Bysshe Shelley(1792-1822) was,like his friend
Lord Byron, one of the mostimportantRomantic poets.
He made himselfunpopular with some ofhis ideas on
subjects such as atheism,vegetarianism and the need
for social and political change,which at the time were
controversial.
This simple love poem shows a different,more personal
side to Shelley, who usuallywrote aboutmore serious
subjects such as politics.
Contextof the natural qualitiesof love and
coupling– itis as organicand as pure as the
natural world.Inaddition,there isasense of
divinitysuggestedasthoughthe romance is
ordainedbythe heavens.Senseof courtlylove
and the man pursuingthe womanandputtingher
on a pedestal.