1. Why is nature used to describe the idea of love in poetry?
Love’s Philosophy- Shelley
27 February, 2019
Mini Starter
Discuss in pairs/groups…
Why is nature used to describe the idea of love in poetry?
Challenge:
Is nature used differently in modern writing to how it was used in the past? Why?
Background Image:
Leaf Image:
Flower Image:
Butterfly Image:
Must:
Understand and be able to thoughtfully explain the meaning and main themes of the poem.
(AO1)
Should:
Explore and consider multiple interpretations of the poem.
(AO1/AO2)
Could:
Analyse the language, form and structure of the poem.
(AO2)

2. Context Consider the effect of the Romantics
Percy Bysshe Shelley ( ) was, like his friend Lord Byron, one of the most important Romantic poets. He made himself unpopular with some of his ideas on subjects such as atheism, vegetarianism and the need for social and political change, which at the time were controversial. This simple love poem shows a different, more personal side to Shelley, who usually wrote about more serious subjects such as politics.
List 5 key events that influenced the Romantic movement.
Explain the point of view of the Romantics.
(likes/dislikes…)
Consider the effect of the Romantics
on modern day views.

3. Initial Impressions: Structure & Meaning
How do the last lines of each stanza differ from the rest of the poem?
In what ways does line 8 differ from line 16?
What is the effect of these shorter lines on the reader?
THINK
What is Shelley’s ‘philosophy’ in this poem?
(e.g. a divine law forces all things to blend together, so we must also do the same.)
PAIR
Compare your idea with your partner.
Are they the same?
Could you combine them/add to one?
SHARE
Can we evaluate and decide upon a one-line summary of his philosophy based on all of our ideas?

4. Nature & Verbs Circle the verbs used in this poem.
What are our connotations of these verbs?
Which language technique has Shelley employed?
Challenge: What is the effect of this language device?
‘Nature is presented by Shelley as being meaningless without the love of another person.’
To what extent do you agree/disagree with this statement?
Discuss in pairs and write down your thoughts in bullet points.

5. What is the poem about?
The narrator is addressing a woman-he’s trying to persuade her to be with him romantically.
The narrator gives examples to show how everything in nature is connected in an intimate and loving way. He believes that this God’s law and that this law should be obeyed.
He asks the woman he’s addressing why she’s ignoring God’s law by refusing to have a loving relationship with him. He finally questions what use all the bonds in nature are if he can’t be with her.

6. Feelings and Attitudes
The narrator longs for love. He’s frustrated that his love isn’t returned when he sees all the bonds that exist in nature.
The poem can also be read in a playful way – the narrator oversimplifies the idea that because things in nature come together, he and the woman he wants should also come together.

7. Key Themes
‘Winter Swans’ is another poem that uses natural imagery to express love. Comparing the sense of longing in this poem with the desire and frustration in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and ‘The Farmer’s Bride’.

8. ANALYSING YOUR POEM Voice Ballad Tone Sonnet Symbolism Free verse
Structure
How is the piece organised on the page?
Can you identify the topic of each stanza?
Are the stanzas equal or unequal?
How many stanzas/verses?
Is there rhythm/repetition/enjambment?
What is the line length/rhyme scheme?
Effect
What effect on the reader is the poet aiming to achieve?
(How is it intended to make you think/feel?)
What opinion is conveyed by the poet?
What is the purpose of the poet’s choice of language/opinion/theme?
Meaning
What is the poem about?
Can you discover more than one meaning of the poem?
What ideas and themes is the poet portraying?
What is the poet’s point of view?
Voice
Tone
Ballad
Sonnet
Free verse
Dramatic monologue
Symbolism
Alliteration
Assonance
Juxtaposition
Oxymoron
S.M.I.L.E
Simile
Extended Metaphor
Personification
Rhyming Couplet
Enjambment
Emotive Language
Repetition
Language
Which words has the poet used to convey meaning?
What are the connotations of the language used?
Is there more than one meaning of the word/phrase?
Has the poet used figurative language? (onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance…)
How has the poet used language to infer meaning?
Imagery
Which images are conveyed to the reader?
Does the poem contain metaphors, similes or personification?
Why do you think the poet has included the images in the poem?

9. Imagery of flowing water shows that everything is connected to everything else.
The narrator uses personification to draw parallels between what happens in nature and his own desire to be with his lover
Increasing scale of imagery – showing water joining larger and larger bodies hints that loving someone makes you part of something bigger than yourself.
Personification suggests that nature enjoys and benefits from this union
“river” and “ever” are half-rhymes, as are “heaven” and “forgiven” in the second stanza-this reflects how the couple aren’t united.
The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;  
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle -
Why not I with thine?—
This line sums up the narrator’s argument
Dash creates a pause, which emphasises the question at the end of the stanza
The narrator thinks it’s God’s law that everything in nature mingles together
In both stanzas, the first 6 or 7 lines are confident assertions, which contrast with the rhetorical questions in the final lines
Repetition of “mingle” emphasises how everything in nature is united

10. The narrator claims that his loved one’s lack of love towards him goes against God’s law and is therefore unforgivable
Use of physical language hints at his frustration that he can’t “kiss” and “clasp” his lover.
The mirrored repetition of “kiss” and “clasp” reflects the narrator’s belief that humans should mirror nature.
See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdain’d its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?
Hints that the woman the narrator is addressing has rejected him.
Repetition highlights just how many examples he can show her of unity in nature
Emphasises that everything is connected, even the Sun and Moon – not just nature on Earth.
The final line in each stanza is monosyllabic and only has five syllables-this increases the impact of the questions and makes them stand out. They’re separated from the rest of the poem, just as the narrator is separated from the rest of the poem.

11. Poem Dictionary Fountains - natural springs
Law divine - a law of God which can’t be changed by man
Thine - yours
Disdain’d - looked down on or scorned

12. Reflection: SMILE Paragraph
Point:
Topic sentence with an adjective.
Evidence:
Quotation- try to embed it in the sentence.
Explain:
Select a keyword- why does it stand out?
What is the effect on the reader?
Language Analysis-
Analyse what the word suggests &
how it links back to the adjective.
This suggests…
The use of the word… implies that…
This infers… The poet was trying to convey
The writer wanted to suggest…
The connotations of this word are…
Word Bank