Analysis

The analysis of the poem “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Raleigh shows that its composition is relatively simple. The poem uses rhyme and rhythm to stress the idea that the nothing lasts forever and even love is only temporary. 

In the context of the poem, the speaker is both an individual – the nymph - as well as a representation of the poet’s thoughts regarding love and time. The poem is written in the first person singular, and the shepherd is addressed directly with the personal pronoun “thee”.

The setting of the poem is somewhere in nature. There are several mentions of elements of the natural environment, such as flowers, rivers, rocks, and how the change of season affects them.

The language is simple and straightforward. The message is expressed with the use of metaphorical language, enumeration, and other poetic devices.

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.