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Summary To Althea, from prison poem analysis
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A full analysis of " To Althea, from prison" poem for the IEB syllabus of
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To Althea, from prison – Richard Lovelace (1618-1658)Biographical information:
Cavalier poet group: they believe in pleasure e.g. partying but also virtue: e.g.
honouring the king
Lovelace was put in jail for petitioning (supporting) King Charles 1
Royalist/poet/soldier
Politics – government vs monarchy
Huge supporter of King Charles and as such was arrested and imprisoned in the
Gatehouse, London where he wrote this poem.
He died in poverty with charity as he aligned himself with the royalist cause.
He had a lover at the time- Lucy Sacheverell
In Greek – Althea =healer
Meaning/Message:
Power of the mind sets you free
(Imagination = freedom)
(Physically trapped = mentally/physically free)
Imagery/ Figures of speech/ Diction:
PARADOX: TWO CONTRADICTORY IDEAS THAT DON’T SEEM TO GO
TOGETHER; HOWEVER TOGETHER, THEY ACTUALLY SHOW US A DEEPER
TRUTH ABOUT LIFE
EG: In prison, I am set free.
(when physically trapped, I can most appreciate how my mind/ imagination allows
me the freedom to feel and think as I want)
PARADOX ANSWERING TECHNIQUE:
The idea of ________ and _______ seem contradictory. However, ultimately, they
reveal the deeper truth about ______.
Structure:
Very regular structure: Set rhyme scheme ABAB 4 stanzas of 8 lines (Octaves)
Repetition
Use of the subordinating clauses in 1-3
SHOWS HIS ORDERED AND STRONG ARGUMENT
Tone/mood:
UPLIFTING/ ASSERTIVE / BOLD/ DARING/ INSPIRING
*dictionary definition Freedom: the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants.
, ‘To Althea, from Prison’
Title: ‘to’ - some sort of address Althea (Lucy?)
“From prison”- contexct where it is taking place.
Begins with the subordinate conjunction – when
Purpose : condition and consequence
Stanza 1
1. When Love with unconfinèd wings
Love is being compared to a bird something unrestricted/unbounded
‘L’ is capitalised to show the significance/status of love
Hovers within my gates,
Within gates – context (entrance to prison)
Hover – wait around
And my divine Althea brings
Love has brought him a visitor/guest
Who? – althea
Brings healing/comfort
Divine: holy/ ethereal/ spiritual
Brings – syntax (sentence structure) has been changed to create rhyme.
Althea is brought by love
To whisper at the grates;
Whisper – intimate/gentle
Grates – through the prison bars
2.When I lie tangled in her hair
Tangled- lies so close to her (A)
That he is wrapped/ caught in her hair
And fettered to her eye,
Metaphorically- chained/ connected to her
Her gaze is mesmerizing
The Gods that wanton in the air,
Wanton – reckless/careless/free
Know no such liberty.
They – (gods who have unlimited freedom) have no freedom compared to what he
has when he is with her.
Liberty- freedom from restrictive conditions.
Stanza sum up:
The power of the mind/imagination/thought can offer freedom even in prison.
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