Love’s Farewell – Michael Drayton
· Structure: Shakespearean Sonnet (abab cdcd ef ef gg)
Imabic pentameter
Sonnets typically represents love – poem deviates as it is about a breakup (loss of love)
·
· Kiss and part: cordial diction
Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and · no hope f or this relationship so they must part
1
part, - ways
· Not parting in hatred
2 Nay I have done, you get no more of me; · Lover is trying to continue the relationship –
3 And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart, begging f or a second chance
· Speaker is determined to end the relationship
· Nay – speaker is trying to convince himself
· Foregrounding: speaker is in control
· Speaker f eels used – has given everything f or her
but she just took and never gave back
4 That thus so cleanly I myself can free; · Speaker f eels weak but is trying to convince
himself that he is strong
· Repetition: shows how the speaker is convincing
himself that he is happy f or the relationship to be
over
5 Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, · Shake hands – agreement
6 And when we meet at any time again, · Final goodbye – he is trying to hurt her while
being mature at the same time
7 Be it not seen in either of our brows · Wants to cancel all the promises that they made
to each other
· For ever – malicious
8 That we one jot of former love retain. · Brows – f ace
· Jot – little piece
· If they ever meet again, there must be no
expression of love on either of their f aces
9 Now at the last gasp of love’s latest breath, · Personification: speaker personif ies love as
When his pulse failing, passion speechless dying
10 · Passion, innocence and f aith are needed f or love
lies,
– as they f ade away/die, so love starts to die
11 When faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
(symbolises ending of the relationship)
12 And innocence is closing up his eyes, · Symbolises the dying of the elements of their
relationship
– Now if thou would’st, when all have given · Dash – indicates a change in tone
13
him over, · If the lover wants to try the relationship again, the
speaker will not object – the speaker is not as
happy about the relationship as he portrays
himself to be
From death to life thou might’st him yet
14 · Him: love
decover!
· He is breaking up with her because he didn’t
want her to break up with him f irst – protecting his
ego
· Structure: Shakespearean Sonnet (abab cdcd ef ef gg)
Imabic pentameter
Sonnets typically represents love – poem deviates as it is about a breakup (loss of love)
·
· Kiss and part: cordial diction
Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and · no hope f or this relationship so they must part
1
part, - ways
· Not parting in hatred
2 Nay I have done, you get no more of me; · Lover is trying to continue the relationship –
3 And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart, begging f or a second chance
· Speaker is determined to end the relationship
· Nay – speaker is trying to convince himself
· Foregrounding: speaker is in control
· Speaker f eels used – has given everything f or her
but she just took and never gave back
4 That thus so cleanly I myself can free; · Speaker f eels weak but is trying to convince
himself that he is strong
· Repetition: shows how the speaker is convincing
himself that he is happy f or the relationship to be
over
5 Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, · Shake hands – agreement
6 And when we meet at any time again, · Final goodbye – he is trying to hurt her while
being mature at the same time
7 Be it not seen in either of our brows · Wants to cancel all the promises that they made
to each other
· For ever – malicious
8 That we one jot of former love retain. · Brows – f ace
· Jot – little piece
· If they ever meet again, there must be no
expression of love on either of their f aces
9 Now at the last gasp of love’s latest breath, · Personification: speaker personif ies love as
When his pulse failing, passion speechless dying
10 · Passion, innocence and f aith are needed f or love
lies,
– as they f ade away/die, so love starts to die
11 When faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
(symbolises ending of the relationship)
12 And innocence is closing up his eyes, · Symbolises the dying of the elements of their
relationship
– Now if thou would’st, when all have given · Dash – indicates a change in tone
13
him over, · If the lover wants to try the relationship again, the
speaker will not object – the speaker is not as
happy about the relationship as he portrays
himself to be
From death to life thou might’st him yet
14 · Him: love
decover!
· He is breaking up with her because he didn’t
want her to break up with him f irst – protecting his
ego
