Love's Exchange

Question 1

Overview:

Answer 1

• Central conceit of the poem plays on the Faustian notion that man will give his soul to the devil for love.
• The speaker apostrophises to cupid to bargain for leniency in love, ultimately succumbing to sacrifice his own body for love - acts as an example so other may resist love.

Question 2

“Love, any devil else but you”.

Answer 2

• reference to the faustian notion that man will give his soul for love.
• cynical view.
• poem begins in media res giving it the notion of being an angry rant.
• personification of love.

Question 3

Form:

Answer 3

• alternative between tetrameter and pentameter - adds depth to the speakers argument.

Question 4

“Give me my weakness!” “Make me blind”.

Answer 4

• Reference to the fact that Cupid was portrayed as a blind boy in Greek mythology.
• Also demonstrates that he wants to be ignorant of love.
  “tender shame” that follows perhaps demonstrates that he feels ashamed of what love has done to him.

Question 5

Semantic field of war - “shot/enforce”, “war’s law condition”.

Answer 5

• Presentation of the speaker as a small town under side.
• Having to succumb to the force of love.

Question 6

Repetition of “this face”.

Answer 6

• Reference to Dr Faustas.
• Mirroring Faustus language when Mephistopheles asks to show him Helen of troy.

Question 7

Semantic field of torture - “dissect”, “yet kills not”.
“rack’t carcasses make ill anatomies”

Answer 7

• Sadistic nature love, has physically disfigured his family.
• torture would have been fairly common during the 16th century - love is for some reason punishing him.

Question 8

Context:

Answer 8

• Plays on the contemporary popular story of Faust - Christopher Marlows Dr Faustus is echoed here - Faustus strikes a bargain with Mephistopheles who Faustus sells his soul to in return for power and magic,