Question

In the Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd, Raleigh claims that Time has a negative effect on Love. Write a paragraph explaining Time’s effect on Love. Include at least 4 pieces of evidence from the poem that Raleigh gives to prove his central idea. Make sure to carefully explain in your own words each piece of evidence you use

Answer 1

Walter Raleigh's poem 'The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd' illustrates that Time leads to the decay of Love through imagery of fading nature and future hardships.

Step-by-step explanation:

Walter Raleigh's 'The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd' conveys the theme that Time has a deteriorative effect on Love and earthly pleasures. Raleigh uses several pieces of evidence to portray the transient nature of life and, consequently, love.

• The lines 'Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten: / In folly ripe, in reason rotten' suggest that youthful pleasures and passions are fleeting, quickly giving way to decay and forgetfulness.
• The poem mentions 'Time drives the flocks from field to fold' reflecting on how Time changes the vibrant to the weary, the lively to the quiet, implying that vigorous love will also fade.
• 'When Rivers rage and Rocks grow cold' presents nature's transformation over time, symbolizing how love too can become cold and impassive.
• The final stanza speaks of 'cares to come,' indicating a future filled with worries and hardships that will overtake youthful love.

Each of these pieces serves to highlight the central idea that all earthly things, including passionate love, are subject to change and end over time.