Language

Style of language

The poem “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Raleigh is written in the traditional pastoral poetry style. The pastoral style is typically used to present country life in an idealized, unrealistic manner. The style of language used to express this is also simple and straightforward, and the rhythm and rhyme have an uplifting effect. 

This poem also uses a simple, easy style, and an uplifting rhythm. However, the content subverts the central idea of pastoral poems, as the setting and feelings presented in the poem are described as subject to change and meant to come to an end. The joyful rhythm of the poem is satirically used to contradict the ideas that love and the beauty of nature are eternal. Therefore, we can say that the style of language and the message are at odds, which is what makes the poem ...