Farewell to Love

Question 1

Overview:

Answer 1

The poem ultimately considers the unfilling nature of love both physically and spiritually. The speaker of the poem rejects physical love in return for living a more chaste life as a result of unsatisfactory physical relationships.

Question 2

“I thought there was some deity in love … as atheists in their dying hour”.

Answer 2

• Compares false belief in love as being an atheist.
• Satirical jibe against atheists who out of fear of the unknown of the after life suddenly start believing in something.
• This was like desparately searching for meaning in love - especially after sex.

Question 3

Opposing semantic fields of desire and depression: “crave”, “desire”, “admire” and “fall” “sorrowing due;ness”.

Answer 3

• Shows how the speaker felt at the start of his love vs how he feels now.

Question 4

“eager desires to raise posterity”.

Answer 4

• Reference to raising children.
• May imply that the speaker is not ready to give up on love yet.
• Sexual pun contrasts the serious tone of the poem - undermines it and leads to a more playful quality.

Question 5

“Being had enjoying it decays”.

Answer 5

-Had - complete verb - dismissive monosyllables that suggests after consumption the enjoyment of a physical relationship dissipates.
- Internal rhyme - creates a sense of disappointment and dullness.

Question 6

“my mind shall not desire what no man else can find”.

Answer 6

• Change of tone from one of cynical comparisons and questioning to one of acceptance and reflection.