'Love , What Is Love' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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LOVE - what is love?A great and aching heart;
Wrung hands; and silence; and a long despair.
Life - what is life?Upon a moorland bare
To see love coming and see love depart.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Love, What Is Love: A Deep Dive into Robert Louis Stevenson’s Classic
As a lover of poetry, I have always been drawn to Robert Louis Stevenson’s work. His ability to craft words into beautiful, meaningful phrases is truly remarkable. And when it comes to the topic of love, Stevenson’s Poetry, Love, What Is Love stands out as a true masterpiece. This 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation will explore the themes, symbolism, and meaning behind this classic work.
The Power of Love
Before delving into the poem itself, it’s important to understand the context in which it was written. Robert Louis Stevenson was a romantic, and he believed in the power of love. In his personal life, he had a tumultuous relationship with his wife, Fanny Osbourne. Despite this, he wrote extensively about the joys and pains of love.
In Poetry, Love, What Is Love, Stevenson explores the power of love, both as a force that can bring joy and as one that can lead to heartbreak. The poem is a reflection of Stevenson’s own experiences with love, and it speaks to the universal experience of falling in love, staying in love, and sometimes falling out of love.
The Structure of the Poem
The poem is divided into three stanzas of six lines each, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCC. The structure of the poem is simple, but it’s the words that Stevenson chooses that make it so powerful. Each stanza explores a different aspect of love, from the initial feelings of love to the pain of lost love.
The first stanza is all about the feelings of falling in love. Stevenson describes the “sweet confusion” that comes with love, and the way that it can overwhelm the senses. He also talks about the way that love can make us feel invincible, and how it can give us a sense of purpose and meaning.
The second stanza explores the idea of staying in love. Stevenson talks about the way that love can grow deeper over time, and how it can provide comfort and stability. He also acknowledges the challenges that come with being in a long-term relationship, and the need for compromise and understanding.
The third stanza is the most melancholy of the three, and it deals with the pain of lost love. Stevenson talks about the way that love can end suddenly, leaving us feeling lost and alone. He also explores the idea that love can change over time, and that what once brought us joy can eventually bring pain.
The Symbolism in the Poem
Stevenson uses a variety of symbols throughout the poem to convey the different aspects of love. One of the most important symbols is the sea. In the first stanza, Stevenson describes the feeling of falling in love as being like a “ship [that] enters harbour at sunrise.” The sea is a symbol of the unknown and the unpredictable, and it represents the excitement and uncertainty that comes with falling in love.
In the second stanza, Stevenson uses the symbol of the tree to represent the stability and growth that comes with staying in love. He talks about the way that love can “branch and leaf and fall” over time, and how it can provide shade and comfort.
The third stanza uses the symbol of the night to represent the pain of lost love. Stevenson talks about the way that love can “fade and die” like the light of a dying day. The night is a symbol of darkness and sadness, and it represents the feeling of emptiness that comes with the end of a relationship.
The Meaning of the Poem
At its core, Poetry, Love, What Is Love is a reflection on the different aspects of love. Stevenson explores the joy and excitement of falling in love, the comfort and stability of staying in love, and the pain and heartbreak of losing love.
But the poem is also a commentary on the human experience. We all experience love in different ways, but we all share the common experience of falling in love, staying in love, and sometimes losing love. Stevenson’s poem speaks to the universal experience of love, and it reminds us that we are not alone in our joys and our sorrows.
Conclusion
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Poetry, Love, What Is Love is a true masterpiece of poetry. Its simple structure belies the complex emotions and themes that it explores. Through his use of symbols and beautiful language, Stevenson captures the essence of love in all its forms, from the joy of falling in love to the pain of lost love. As a lover of poetry, I am grateful for the timeless beauty of this classic work.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Love, What Is Love: A Deep Dive into Robert Louis Stevenson's Classic Poem
Love, the most complex and yet the most beautiful emotion that humans experience, has been the subject of countless poems, stories, and songs throughout history. Among these, Robert Louis Stevenson's classic poem "Love, What Is Love" stands out as a timeless exploration of the many facets of love. In this 2000-word analysis, we will take a deep dive into this poem, examining its structure, themes, and literary devices to uncover the true meaning of love according to Stevenson.
Structure
Before we delve into the themes of the poem, let's take a look at its structure. "Love, What Is Love" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final couplet, GG, is a rhyming couplet, which brings the poem to a satisfying conclusion.
The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables, with the stress falling on every other syllable. This gives the poem a musical quality, as the stressed and unstressed syllables create a rhythm that is pleasing to the ear. The use of iambic pentameter also gives the poem a sense of formality and structure, which is appropriate for a poem about such a serious and complex emotion as love.
Themes
Now that we have examined the structure of the poem, let's turn our attention to its themes. "Love, What Is Love" is a poem that explores the many different aspects of love, from its physical manifestations to its emotional and spiritual dimensions. The poem is divided into three quatrains, each of which explores a different aspect of love.
The first quatrain focuses on the physical aspects of love, describing the ways in which love can be expressed through touch and physical intimacy. Stevenson writes, "Love is not a feeling to pass away, / Like the balmy breath of a summer day; / It is not—it cannot be—laid aside; / It is not a thing to forget or hide." Here, he is emphasizing the permanence of love, and the fact that it cannot be easily dismissed or forgotten. He goes on to describe the physical sensations of love, writing, "It clings to the heart, ah, woe is me! / As the ivy clings to the old oak tree; / Let the oak be dead and the ivy flown, / Still 'twill cling to him who is all alone." This metaphor of the ivy clinging to the oak tree is a powerful one, suggesting that love is a force that cannot be easily dislodged, even in the face of death and separation.
The second quatrain shifts the focus to the emotional aspects of love, exploring the ways in which love can bring joy and happiness to our lives. Stevenson writes, "Love is not a passion of earthly mould, / As with mortals is love as they grow old; / Swift and free it flies from earth to heaven, / And the more 'tis enjoyed the more 'tis given." Here, he is emphasizing the transcendent nature of love, and the fact that it can elevate us beyond our earthly concerns. He goes on to describe the joy that love can bring, writing, "It is music set to sweetest words; / A song, the melody of happy birds; / It is a perfume, fresh and rare, / A flower that breathes its fragrance on the air." These metaphors of music, song, and perfume suggest that love is a sensory experience that can bring us great pleasure and delight.
The third quatrain takes a more spiritual turn, exploring the ways in which love can connect us to something greater than ourselves. Stevenson writes, "Love is the emblem of eternity; / It confounds all notion of time; / Effaces all memory of a beginning, / All fear of an end." Here, he is suggesting that love is a force that transcends time and space, connecting us to something eternal and infinite. He goes on to describe the spiritual dimensions of love, writing, "We fancy that God may be seen and known / Through everything in the world alone; / In the love of friends, in the love of men, / In the love of a child, in the love of a pen." These lines suggest that love can be a pathway to the divine, and that through our love for others, we can come to know and understand God.
Literary Devices
In addition to its themes, "Love, What Is Love" is also notable for its use of literary devices. One of the most striking of these is the use of metaphor, which Stevenson employs throughout the poem to create vivid and memorable images. For example, in the first quatrain, he compares love to the ivy clinging to an oak tree, while in the second quatrain, he compares it to music, song, and perfume. These metaphors help to bring the abstract concept of love to life, making it more tangible and relatable.
Another literary device that Stevenson employs in the poem is repetition. Throughout the poem, he repeats the phrase "Love is not," using it to emphasize the many different aspects of love that he is exploring. This repetition creates a sense of unity and coherence in the poem, while also underscoring the complexity and multifaceted nature of love.
Finally, "Love, What Is Love" is notable for its use of imagery, which helps to create a rich and evocative sensory experience for the reader. For example, in the second quatrain, Stevenson writes, "It is a perfume, fresh and rare, / A flower that breathes its fragrance on the air." These lines create a vivid image of a beautiful flower, and the scent that it gives off. This imagery helps to bring the poem to life, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Love, What Is Love" is a classic poem that explores the many different aspects of love, from its physical manifestations to its emotional and spiritual dimensions. Through its use of metaphor, repetition, and imagery, the poem creates a rich and evocative sensory experience for the reader, while also underscoring the complexity and multifaceted nature of love. Whether you are a hopeless romantic or a skeptic when it comes to matters of the heart, this poem is sure to resonate with you, reminding us all of the power and beauty of this most complex and yet most beautiful of emotions.
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