(a) The imagery of shadows has been ideated by the poet to convey his message. Discuss.

Question

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow –

To me thou, falsely thine;

And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.

The morning shadowes were away,

But these grow longer all the day,

But oh, loves day is short, if love decay.

Love is a growing, or full constant light;

And his first minute, after no one, is night.

(a) The imagery of shadows has been ideated by the poet to convey his message. Discuss.

(b) What stage of love has been represented in these lines and what are the characteristic features of it?

Answer 1

(a) Just as in the morning when everything is fresh and new, the beginning of a relationship is also new and faultless – but shadows go longer with passage of time but love is fleeting as the noon also last only for a fleeting moment.

(b) The absolute stage of love which exists forever, faults are accepted openly without hesitation.