‘Love’s Philosophy’ Percy Shelley

Percy Shelley Born in 1792 from a wealthy family. His father Timothy Shelley was a member of parliament. He had a love of nature. He attended Eton (public school) and whilst there read much of the work of a philosopher called William Godwin. Godwin believed in freedom and equality, but was an atheist. After reading these ideas, Shelley became an atheist too. In 1810 he went to Oxford University where he became friends with Thomas Jefferson Hogg. They wrote poetry together, but also wrote a leaflet called The Necessity of Atheism – telling people why they should not believe in God. At the time this was incredibly shocking and the two men were expelled from Oxford in 1811. His father wanted him to renounce the leaflet, but he refused and this caused a rift with his father.

Percy Shelley He believed in Pantheism – the idea that a divine spirit flows through the universe – connecting everything. When he was 19 he eloped with a 16 year old called Harriet Westbrook. They had children, but he was not faithful. When he met his hero – William Godwin, he fell in love with Godwin’s daughter Mary. Godwin didn’t approve, but Shelley divorced Harriet and married Mary. In 1816, Shelley and Mary met Lord Byron in Switzerland and became close friends. Shelley and Byron were both Romantic poets – Nature, emotions, supernatural and imagination. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein after Byron suggested that they should all write ghost stories. In 1822 when he was only 29 he drowned in a sailing accident off Italy.

The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, Imagery of flowing water - shows everything is connected Personification – to draw parallels between what happens in nature and the fact that he thinks his lover should be with him The fountains mingle with the river    And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever    With a sweet emotion; Persuasive Starts to list examples of things in nature that are connected to each other – Pantheism ‘river’ and ‘ever’ half rhymes – reflects how the couple are not united Personification – Nature enjoys and benefits from the union

Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine This line almost sums up the narrator’s argument It is God’s law that everything in nature should mingle together – although is he talking about a Christian God?  Nothing in the world is single;    All things by a law divine In another’s being mingle -    Why not I with thine? Dash – creates a pause which emphasises the last question Rhetorical question The first lines are the persuasive argument which culminates with a rhetorical question Repetition – everything in nature is united

See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; ‘kiss’ ‘clasp’ – physical, passionate language Frustration that he can’t do this with his lover personification He says that her lack of love for him is against nature’s law See the mountains kiss high heaven    And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven    If it disdained its brother; Sensory language Hint that he might have been rejected Disdain means to look down on someone with contempt or scorn

And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: ‘and’ - repetition highlights just how many examples that he can show he of things that are united in nature ‘kiss’ ‘clasp’ – mirrored repetition – He believes that humans should mirror nature  And the sunlight clasps the earth    And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth    If thou kiss not me? This could also be hyperbole – he is exaggerating to try and persuade her Everything is connected, even the Sun and Moon – it isn’t just the nature that is on earth Has changed the pronouns at the end – ‘I’ and ‘thine’ become ‘thou’ and ‘me’ In this last question he is wondering what the point is of a world where she doesn’t love him. Maybe love gives life meaning

Structure and form 2 equal verses of 8 lines 2 bodies that are close but not touching Balance – one verse mirrors another Some lines are longer – perhaps reflect water and waves Enjambment – structure reflects meaning Each verse ends with a question that seems to be addressed to her. The pause is perhaps giving her time to respond Rhyme scheme – alternate rhymes – adds to the flow The end of each verse draws attention to the lady. Break with a hyphen before he addresses her

Personification Pathetic Fallacy Imperative Rhetorical Question Repetition Persuasion Philosophy Bonds Contrast Longing Playfulness Nature Mirrored Hyperbole Love Frustration Physical Pantheism Personification Pathetic Fallacy Imperative Rhetorical Question Repetition Persuasion Philosophy Bonds Contrast Longing Playfulness Nature Mirrored Hyperbole Love Frustration Physical Pantheism Personification Pathetic Fallacy Imperative Rhetorical Question Repetition Persuasion Philosophy Bonds Contrast Longing Playfulness Nature Mirrored Hyperbole Love Frustration Physical Pantheism Personification Pathetic Fallacy Imperative Rhetorical Question Repetition Persuasion Philosophy Bonds Contrast Longing Playfulness Nature Mirrored Hyperbole Love Frustration Physical Pantheism FOUNTAINS – OCEAN – MIX – SWEET – NOTHING – DIVINE – MINGLE – WHY – KISS – CLASP – FORGIVEN – DISDAINED – SUNLIGHT – MOONBEAMS – WORTH – NOT FOUNTAINS – OCEAN – MIX – SWEET – NOTHING – DIVINE – MINGLE – WHY – KISS – CLASP – FORGIVEN – DISDAINED – SUNLIGHT – MOONBEAMS – WORTH – NOT FOUNTAINS – OCEAN – MIX – SWEET – NOTHING – DIVINE – MINGLE – WHY – KISS – CLASP – FORGIVEN – DISDAINED – SUNLIGHT – MOONBEAMS – WORTH – NOT FOUNTAINS – OCEAN – MIX – SWEET – NOTHING – DIVINE – MINGLE – WHY – KISS – CLASP – FORGIVEN – DISDAINED – SUNLIGHT – MOONBEAMS – WORTH – NOT