Love Is Not All by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain; Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink And rise and sink and rise and sink again; Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath, Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone; Yet many a man is making friends with death Even as I speak, for lack of love alone. It well may be that in a difficult hour, Pinned down by pain and moaning for release, Or nagged by want past resolution's power, I might be driven to sell your love for peace, Or trade the memory of this night for food. It well may be. I do not think I would.
Lines 1-2: How is the author attempting to lessen love's importance in these lines? “The author says that it is not meat nor drink”
In lines 1-2, the author downplays the importance of love by stating it is neither essential food nor drink.
Lines 3-4: A spar is a strong pole used as a mast of a ship. How does the author use this information in these lines?
Lines 3-4: A spar is a sturdy pole used for a ship's mast. How does the author utilize this detail in these lines?
Lines 5-6: What comparison is the speaker making in these lines?
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Lines 7-11: What connections does the speaker make between death and love in these lines?
Lines 12-14: What message is the speaker trying to communicate in these lines?
CONNOTATION: First, annotate positive and negative word choice. Then examine all of your annotations and create a statement to explain how the speaker highlights their opinion on love.
What figurative language is used in the poem?
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ATTITUDE/TONE: What is the tone the author/speaker is trying to convey about love? How is this achieved?(R.3.1)
Lines 1-2: The author diminishes the significance of love by stating that it is not as essential as food or drink, which are necessary for survival.
Lines 3-4: The author uses the image of a spar, a strong pole that supports a ship's mast, to illustrate that love is not a lifeline for those who are struggling or in danger, as it cannot provide the necessary support in dire situations.
Lines 5-6: The speaker compares love to physical necessities, suggesting that while love is important, it cannot fulfill basic human needs like breathing, healing, or physical safety.
Lines 7-11: The speaker connects love and death by suggesting that many people are suffering and may even be willing to die because they lack love. This highlights the deep emotional pain that can accompany the absence of love.
Lines 12-14: The speaker conveys a message of inner conflict, acknowledging that in moments of extreme pain or desperation, they might consider trading love for something as basic as food. However, they ultimately assert that they do not believe they would actually do that, indicating a strong value placed on love despite its limitations.
Positive Word Choices: "love," "friends," "memory," "peace"
Negative Word Choices: "lack," "pain," "death," "nagged," "sell," "trade"
The speaker highlights their opinion on love by contrasting its emotional significance with the harsh realities of life. While love is portrayed as something valuable and cherished, the negative words emphasize the struggles and sacrifices that can accompany the absence of love.
The tone of the poem is contemplative and somewhat somber. The speaker reflects on the complexities of love, acknowledging its limitations while also recognizing its profound importance. This tone is achieved through the use of stark contrasts between love and basic human needs, as well as the emotional weight of the speaker's reflections on suffering and the potential for sacrifice. The speaker's internal struggle reveals a deep appreciation for love, even in the face of hardship.