Final answer:
Walter Raleigh's 'The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd' expresses the nymph's pragmatic view of lovers' words as fleeting, love tokens as inconsequential, and planning for the future as uncertain, highlighting a contrast with the shepherd's idealism.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Walter Raleigh's poem The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd, the nymph presents a pragmatic perspective on the topics of lovers' words, love tokens, and planning for the future. She finds lovers' words to be fleeting and insincere, as evidenced by the line, 'soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten: / In folly ripe, in reason rotten'. This suggests that the nymph views lovers' words as something that may seem appealing in the moment but lacks substance and longevity.
As for love tokens, the nymph appears to see little value in them. They are transient and cannot withstand the test of time and reality. Instead of being swayed by the shepherd's romanticized offerings, the nymph places importance on lasting, tangible realities.
Regarding planning for the future, the nymph's response indicates skepticism towards the shepherd's promises of eternal happiness. She seems to understand the impermanence of life and love, implying that plans based on idyllic dreams are bound to fail. Thus, her view is grounded in a realistic assessment of the future and the uncertainties it holds.
Through Raleigh's poem, the nymph articulates a view that contrasts sharply with the idealistic promises of the shepherd, showcasing a more sober and perhaps cynical outlook on love and the romantic gestures associated with it.