The IEB poem, To Althea From Prison, written by Richard Lovelace, is analysed in-depth and in great detail in this document. The figures of speech, themes, structures, line by line analysis, themes, stanzas and rhyme schemes are provided and elaborated, offering a greater understanding of the poem....
By Richard Lovelace
To Althea, from Prison
Theme: People can take away physical;
Written like a letter – poem is written as if it is
a love letter freedom, but never their minds.
= Always has mental freedom
Is English for Greek word Althaea.
It brings comfort to his mind while he is in
Tone: optimistic, hopeful and content prison. She is his comfort and freedom.
Love: freedom, something is free to fly
He speaks directly to Althea
His love allows him not to be confined in
prison.
When Love with unconfinèd wings Metaphor: “Wings” – he views her like a bird/
dream
“grates and gates” – describes prison, where Hovers within my Gates, Refers to prison name, an allusion
he is confined and restrained.
Stanza 1
“Grates” – thing over the drain, metal. He
And my divine Althea brings refers to the bars on his windows
To whisper at my grates;
When I lie tangled in her hair He didn’t mind being confined to her – he
loves her
And fetter'd to her eye,
The birds that wanton in the air Flies around aimlessly
Freedom: he feels so free even Gods don’t
know how to feel like this. He thinks about her
Know no such liberty. all the time
, He thinks back:
Metaphor: His friends didn’t dilute When flowing Cups run swiftly round Drinking with his friends was festive – They never use to
their drinks. dilute their drinks
The river
Elaborated statement With no allaying Thames,
Wearing crowns of roses was very festive
Our careless heads with Roses bound,
Stanza 2
Our hearts with Loyal Flames; Feelings of loyalty to country
When thirsty grief in Wine we steep Steep = seeps
When Healths and draughts go free, When he was drowning his grief in wine
They drank like fishes, Metaphor Fishes that triple in the Deep Potion of liquard – they use to drink in excess
Know no such liberty. Don’t know such freedom
They drank when they felt like it.
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