Figurative Language

Many poets aim to convey a message through their poetry. They will often do so through the use of figurative language, which helps them depict a variety of themes throughout their poems. In John Donne’s poem, “Valediction Forbidding Mourning,” and Richard Lovelace’s poem, “To Althea, From Prison,” the poets both examine the common themes of separation and loyalty in their own distinct styles of figurative language. However, while both poets use a variety of figurative language, John Donne expresses an allegory in an attempt to explore his themes more in depth, delivering a deeper note of emotion, while Richard Lovelace juxtaposes both imprisonment and freedom to give his readers a positive outlook on a typically negative theme. In his poem,
He uses this allegory to portray deeper emotion and exposes that by taking an object that has nothing to do with love and turning into an a relevant symbol of their love. This gives the reader an idea on how strong his love was for his wife. We can understand his perspective of the relationship. The allegory of the compass also makes it clear that no matter the separation and the distance Donne may go, his wife will remain constant and stay loyal because they are one.
While John Donne portrays the theme of separation through a somber lens, Richard Lovelace exemplifies a theme of distant love on a more positive note. He explores the theme through several usages of figurative language, including images through juxtaposition. Despite his physical imprisonment and separation from society, Lovelace examines how love and his mental state declare him free. For instance, in the first few lines of his poem Lovelace introduces his love, Althea, through personification. “When Love with unconfined
Although, the title clearly states that the narrator is in prison, which is always associated with confinement, Lovelace distinctly implies the opposite. “When flowing Cups run swiftly round/ With no allaying Thames” (9-10). Here, Lovelace uses a metonymy consisting of several words with connotations related to freedom. For instance, “flowing” gives the impression of limitless motion. He produces the image of “flowing cups” with no “allaying Thames.” In other words, there is no water in his wine to dilute it. Even further, it is pure, as is his freedom. In the entire stanza, Lovelace remembers the good times before he was imprisoned, when he had celebrated with his love, their