Poem analysis

Algeron Charles Swinburne’s “Love and Sleep” established a theme of his lover’s beauty and his unconditional love towards her through strong diction which creates a passionate form of image. In the poem, such words as “lying” (1), “asleep” (1) and “night” (1) implies the speaker is in his bedroom, creating a lonely, quite atmosphere. In this immersive atmosphere, the writer strikes a chord with the readers and graphs the sorrow and yearning incisively and vividly. Moreover, the word “saw” (2), being past tense, reveals that his lover who used to lay by his side is not with him, which is why he feels “sad” (2). Besides, “Love and Sleep” contains a simile by which the author compared his lover with “a lily’s leaf or head” to praise her purity. Divinely innocent mind, charming and dewy eyes, flawlessly pure skin and opalescent teeth… Only being simple, this comparison arouses infinite aftertaste and reverie, further extolling the insurmountable beauty of his lover. Continually describing her by saying her “Smooth-skinned and dark” (4) and “bare throat made to bite” (4), the writer expresses that he is extremely appealed to her. Her skin so smooth and fragrant like milk chocolate, tanned but still seductive. Other evaluative words as “warm” (5), “white” (5) and “blushing” (5) also catches the sight of her irresistible glamour. Within these words, antithesis is cleverly used for extra emphasis for her perfectly apposite beauty, neither too pale nor too blush, her tone always satisfies him. (“Too wan for blushing and too warm for white” (5)).In addition, “Amorously (7)” indicates his lover’s sweet talk; hearing from her is more rejoicing than talking with an angle. Furthermore, in line nine and ten, metaphor and parallelism are used conjointly to compliment her sweetness by comparing her face with honey and her body to pasture. The refreshment of honey and pasture naturally creates a luscious image of a sexy lady, twisting her waist, breathing delicately. An additional hyperbole, “hands hotter than fire” (11) is applied to exaggerate the enthusiasm of his lover. The next verse is crucial in this poem as it may have symbolized Swinburne’s childhood. He lived in the south of England, which is mentioned in the verse “hair smelling of the south” (12). He fell in love with his cousin there but they never got married. His lover’s scent may have reminded him of his cousin whom he still loves. In a word, the whole poem is in a passionate tone and create a sense of sweetness and adoration.