'Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away' by John Fletcher


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Take, oh take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn,
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,
Seals of love, but sealed in vain.

Hide, oh hide those hills of snow,
Which thy frozen bosom bears,
On whose tops the pinks that grow
Are yet of those that April wears.
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy chains by thee.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation by John Fletcher

Wow, what a beautiful and enchanting poem we have here! John Fletcher, a famous English playwright and poet, penned this masterpiece during the Elizabethan era, and it still resonates with readers today. Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away is a lyrical and evocative poem that explores themes of love, longing, and the transience of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the structure, literary devices, and themes of this poem and uncover its hidden meanings.

Structure

The poem consists of two stanzas, each containing four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem's structure is reminiscent of a song or ballad, and it adds to the poem's musicality and rhythm. The use of repetition and parallelism in each stanza reinforces the poem's themes and adds to its lyrical quality. The repetition of the phrase "take, oh take" in the first line of each stanza creates a sense of urgency and desire, while the parallelism between the second and fourth lines of each stanza adds a sense of finality to the poem's message.

Literary Devices

Fletcher employs a variety of literary devices to enhance the poem's themes and create a vivid image in the reader's mind. The poem's title is an allusion to a line from Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure, which adds to the poem's romantic and nostalgic tone. The use of repetition, as mentioned earlier, adds to the poem's musicality and creates a sense of urgency and longing. The use of alliteration in the line "pale and wan" in the second stanza adds a sense of melancholy and emphasizes the frailty of life. The personification of death in the second stanza adds to the poem's theme of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The use of imagery in the line "like to a withered vine" in the second stanza paints a vivid picture of the decay and deterioration of life.

Themes

At its core, Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away is a poem about love and the fleeting nature of life. The repetition of the phrase "take, oh take" in the first line of each stanza suggests a desire to hold onto something that is slipping away. The poem's title, which alludes to a line from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, adds to this sense of nostalgia and longing for something that has been lost. The use of imagery and personification in the second stanza highlights the inevitability of death and the transience of life. The line "like to a withered vine" suggests that life is fleeting and ephemeral, much like a plant that withers and dies.

The poem's theme of love is also evident throughout the poem. The use of repetition and parallelism in each stanza suggests a desire to hold onto something that is slipping away, whether it be a lover's lips or the fleeting moments of life. The repetition of the phrase "pale and wan" in the second stanza adds a sense of melancholy and suggests that even love cannot conquer the inevitability of death. The use of personification in the second stanza, where death is portrayed as a "grim-fac'd tyrant," adds to this sense of melancholy and suggests that love is powerless in the face of death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away is a beautiful and evocative poem that explores themes of love, longing, and the transience of life. Fletcher's use of repetition, alliteration, and personification adds to the poem's musicality and creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. The poem's structure, which follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, adds to its lyrical quality and reinforces its themes. Ultimately, the poem reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with our loved ones. This is a timeless message that resonates with readers today as much as it did during the Elizabethan era.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away: A Classic Poem by John Fletcher

If you are a fan of classic poetry, then you must have come across the famous poem "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" by John Fletcher. This poem has been around for centuries and has been analyzed and interpreted by many scholars and literary enthusiasts. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its meaning, themes, and literary devices.

Background Information

John Fletcher was an English playwright and poet who lived from 1579 to 1625. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and collaborated with him on several plays. Fletcher was known for his romantic and tragic plays, and his poetry was equally renowned. "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is one of his most famous poems and was first published in 1607.

Analysis

The poem "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a short, four-line poem that expresses the speaker's desire for a lover's kiss. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress falling on the second syllable of each foot. This gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality that makes it easy to read and remember.

The first line of the poem, "Take, oh take those lips away," is an imperative sentence that commands the lover to kiss the speaker. The repetition of the word "take" emphasizes the urgency and desire of the speaker, while the use of the word "oh" adds a sense of pleading and desperation. The second line, "That so sweetly were forsworn," reveals that the speaker's lover has broken a promise or oath, but the speaker is willing to forgive and forget in exchange for a kiss.

The third line, "And those eyes, the break of day," compares the lover's eyes to the dawn, which is a common metaphor in poetry for new beginnings and hope. The speaker is suggesting that a kiss from the lover would bring a new dawn of happiness and love. The final line, "Lights that do mislead the morn," is a bit more complex. The word "lights" refers to the lover's eyes, but the phrase "mislead the morn" is a paradox. The morning is usually associated with clarity and truth, but the speaker is suggesting that the lover's eyes are so beautiful that they can deceive the truth and lead the speaker astray.

Themes

The main theme of "Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is love and desire. The speaker is expressing his or her longing for a lover's kiss and is willing to forgive past transgressions in exchange for that kiss. The poem also touches on the theme of forgiveness, as the speaker is willing to let go of past grievances and move forward with the lover.

Another theme that can be inferred from the poem is the power of beauty. The lover's lips and eyes are described as being so beautiful that they can deceive and mislead the speaker. This suggests that beauty can be a powerful force that can cloud judgment and lead people astray.

Literary Devices

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a poem that is rich in literary devices. One of the most prominent devices used in the poem is repetition. The repetition of the word "take" in the first line emphasizes the urgency and desire of the speaker, while the repetition of the word "lights" in the final line creates a sense of rhythm and musicality.

The poem also uses metaphor and paradox to convey its meaning. The comparison of the lover's eyes to the dawn is a metaphor that suggests a new beginning and hope. The paradoxical phrase "lights that do mislead the morn" creates a sense of tension and ambiguity that adds depth to the poem.

Conclusion

"Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Its simple yet powerful language, themes of love and desire, and effective use of literary devices make it a timeless piece of literature. Whether you are a fan of classic poetry or just appreciate beautiful writing, this poem is definitely worth reading and analyzing.

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