Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions which follow:

Stand still, and I will read to thee A Lecture, Love, in Love's philosophy. These three hours that we have spent, Walking here, two shadows went Along with us, which we ourselves produced; But, now the sun is just above our head, We do those shadows tread And to brave clearness all things are reduced. So whilst our infant loves did grow, Disguises did, and shadows, flow From us, and our cares; but now 'tis not so. That love has not attain'd the high'st degree, Which is still diligent lest others see.

1. What is the central message of the poem?
2. What is the significance of the shadows in the poem?
3. What is the meaning of the phrase "Love's philosophy" in the poem?
4. In what ways does the poem reflect Milton's view of love and relationships?
5. How does the poem use imagery and figurative language to convey its message?
6. Pick out the word from the extract which is an apt synonym of ‘conscientious'.

Answer 1

1. The central message of the poem is that love is fleeting and prone to change, much like the shadows that follow us throughout the day. The speaker suggests that as our love grows and matures, it becomes less subject to the whims of fate and more stable and enduring.
2. The shadows in the poem symbolize the fleeting nature of love and the transience of human life. The speaker suggests that just as our shadows change throughout the day, so too does our love evolve and grow.
3. "Love's philosophy" refers to the idea that love is a complex and ever-changing emotion that is difficult to understand or predict. The speaker suggests that just as philosophy seeks to understand the nature of existence, so too does love seek to understand the nature of human relationships.
4. The poem reflects Milton's view of love and relationships as being complex and subject to change. The speaker suggests that love is often driven by passion and impulse, but that it can also be a source of stability and endurance as it matures over time.
5. The poem uses imagery and figurative language to convey its message by comparing love to the shadows that follow us throughout the day. The use of metaphors and similes, such as comparing love to a child or a game, adds depth and complexity to the speaker's message.
6. diligent