Search results
Andrew Marvell's "The Definition of Love" suggests that the greatest love is an impossible one. The poem's speaker and a beloved can't be together, but by going on loving each other in spite of distance and hopelessness, they achieve a love the speaker imagines in terms of mathematical perfection.
- Summary
- Structure and Form
- Themes
- Tone and Mood
- Theme, Imagery, and Metaphysical Conceits in The Poem
- Tone and Meter
- Metaphysical Conceits
- Analysis of The Definition of Love
‘The Definition of Love’by Andrew Marvell talks about the nature of love, which exists between the poet and his beloved. The poet regards this love as being perfect and therefore unattainable. In the poem, the poet, first of all, makes his readers acquainted with the parentage of this love. This love, the poet says, is of rare birth. It is the offs...
‘The Definition of Love’ by Andrew Marvell has the same stanza form that is used in the poems, ‘Mourning’ and ‘The Mower to the Glow-worms’. Each line of the poem is octosyllabic and it constitutes an iambic tetrameter. The alternate lines of the poem rhyme altogether. It is not a glib measure, and all three poems are noticeably short. This poem of...
‘The Definition of Love’by Andrew Marvell contains several themes. The most important theme of the poem is love. The poet describes the character of his love for his beloved. According to the poet, this love is perfect and therefore unattainable. This love is divine, but for that very reason hopeless. The perfect love of this kind is most unwelcome...
‘The Definition of Love’ by Andrew Marvell has a very simple idea, but the idea is expressed through learned imagery so that it requires a scholar to explain to us all the meanings and the implications of the various lines of the poem. However, some of the lines make a direct appeal to us because of their sheer simplicity. For example, the psycholo...
The poem, ‘The Definition of Love‘ by Andrew Marvelldescribes the character of the poet’s love for his beloved. This love, says the poet, is perfect and therefore unattainable. This love is divine, but for that very reason hopeless. The perfect love of this kind is most unwelcome to Fate who therefore never permits the union of perfect lovers. This...
The poem, ‘The Definition of Love‘ by Andrew Marvell has a very simple idea, but that idea is expressed through learned imagery so that it requires a scholar to explain to us all the meanings and the implications of the various lines of ‘The Definition of Love‘. However, some of the lines make a direct appeal to us because of their sheer simplicity...
‘The Definition of Love’ by Andrew Marvell contains several metaphysical conceits, which can be best defined by the lines like “begotten by Despair Upon Impossibility”. 1. In the line mentioned above, the idea is that the poet’s love is unattainable, but to express this idea, the poet personifies Despair and Impossibility. He imagines that his love...
Stanza One
‘The Definition of Love’ by Andrew Marvell gives a preliminary idea about the poet’s love. According to the poet, his love originates from a rare source. The objective of the poet’s love is exceptionally strange and sublime. In the end, the poet refers to the origin of his love. It is the offspring of “Despair” and “Impossibility”. These two words point to the poet’s conception of love. There is also a reference to the poet’s mental condition in this section.
Stanza Two
In the second stanza, the poet thinks that only “magnanimous” or resolute despair could produce such a noble feeling as love in him. In his case, the feelings of love proved to be weak. Here the poet uses a simileof a bird with gaudy but feeble wings to compare it with his hope of love. His heart tried to promise him fulfillment but its effort proved to be futile. So the poet thinks his love could never have been fulfilled.
Stanza Three
In the third stanza, the poet says he could have quickly arrived at the destination in his view. But his “Fate” put forth obstacles to keep him away from his beloved. Here the poet uses a metaphorof a carpenter who drives iron into a log of wood to split it into two parts. The poet presents this image of a carpenter to compare it to his fate.
Aug 1, 2016 · We’ll begin with a short summary or paraphrase of ‘The Definition of Love’ before we move to analyse it. Marvell’s speaker announces that the love he feels is rare because it was born of despair – despair of knowing that the one he loved would never be his (‘Impossibility’).
Dive deep into Andrew Marvell's The Definition of Love with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion
Apr 18, 2024 · “The Definition of Love” explores the tension between determinism and free will in love, portraying the speaker caught between accepting fate’s limitations and desiring a love that fate seems determined to prevent.
Though infinite, can never meet. Therefore the love which us doth bind, But Fate so enviously debars, Is the conjunction of the mind, And opposition of the stars. For Fate with jealous eye does see Two perfect loves, nor lets them close; Their union would her ruin be, And her tyrannic pow’r depose.
People also ask
What is the prevailing mood of the poem 'The definition of Love'?
How does the poem explore the nature of the poet's love?
Who wrote the definition of Love?
What is a poet's love?
What stanza is the definition of Love by Andrew Marvell?
What is the theme of 'the definition of Love' by Andrew Marvell?
Apr 12, 2021 · The poem ‘The Definition of Love’ is a metaphysical poem written by Andrew Marvell. The poem explores the nature of the poet’s love for his beloved. The poet sees this love as perfect and thus unattainable. The poet begins the poem by introducing his readers to the parents of this love.
