Works Cited
- "Richard Lovelace." n.d. poemhunter. 2012. Web. 9 Jan. 2013.
- "To Althea, from Prison." Poem. Poetry Foundation, 2012. Web. 9 Jan. 2013.
- Tucker, Martin. "Richard Lovelace." Moulton's Library of Literary Criticism. New York: F. Unger Pub. Co., 1966. 417. Print.
Literary Device
To Althea, from Prison
Paradox- is a statement that appears to be contradictory but is actually true, either in fact or in a figurative state
When Love with unconfinèd wings
Hovers within my Gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at the Grates;
When I lie tangled in her hair,
And fettered to her eye,
The Gods that wanton in the Air,
Know no such Liberty.
Stone Walls do not a Prison make,
Nor Iron bars a Cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an Hermitage.
If I have freedom in my Love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above,
Enjoy such Liberty.
Criticism
Lucasta: Epodes, Odes, Sonnets, Songs, &c. Lond. 1649, Oct. The reason why he gave that title was, because, some time before, he had made his amours to a gentlewoman of great beauty and fortune named Lucy Sacheverel whom he usually called Lux Casta; but she upon a strong report that Lovelace was dead of his wound received at Dunkirk soon, after married.
Richard Lovelace
My Interpretation Stanza 3-4
My Interpretation Stanza 1-2
- In the third stanza he is talking about the political clash and how he will still stick by his king and give him praises
- In the last stanza Lovelace is speaking about how stone walls can truely imprison him as long as he has his imagination and thought then he has freedom. He also says people and angels can enjoy the same things
- In the first stanza he is saying that when his love is in his mind that he has the most freedom
- In the second stanza he is talking about how everyone is drinking all they want like fish drink water but he is more free then they are because he has his mind clear and they do not
Background Information
- Born in 1618 and died in 1657
- He was born Woolrich, England
- He studied at Oxford University
- His family was from a military background so he also had high afflictions with King James 1st
- Before he started writing he was a solider and fought for King James 1st
- He was later imprisoned for his connections to the king
- At the age of 39 he died from tuberculosis
By: Alana Gorham