Fast Formal Analysis Outline

1. Genre An example of metaphysical poetry. It used the juxtaposition of ideas that are seemingly unrelated. In this case it astronomy and a compass to describe their love.

2. Narrator/Persona
 A man who is leaving his lover, reassuring her that their love is stronger than their separation.


3. Setting
It was a little bit unclear what the setting was. I imagine it's face to face with his lover, perhaps as they are parting.

4. Character
This includes both the narrator and his lover that he is talking to. I don't think it would be beyond the genre of Metaphysical Poetry, to assume there is more going on here than it seems. The narrator might not be sincere and is just trying to avoid a scene while getting a little time to himself.

5. Plot
This is more of a snapshot, than an actual plot. It indicates there is a lot more going on before or after. We don't even know what the response of the lover is.

6. Audience
It could include people of the time and perhaps an actual lover.

7. Textual Awareness
It makes an allusion to ideas found in medieval astronomy in the "trepidation of the spheares."

8. Tone/Style
It seems sort of sweet, bringing his lover beyond the bounds of "normal love" saying that their love is so refined, they don't need to be together all the time. Instead their love will fill the gap between them.

9. Arrangement
It makes a request to not have a lot of crying going on, and then provides reasons, that their love is stronger and more important than that. Then there is a lot of reassurance in that

10. Imagery
"Like gold to ayery thinness beate" uses a comparison of something very precious and malleable, to compare to their love when they are seperated.
Another, is that of the compass. What I found interesting though, is the point on the end of the compass and the fixed point in the middle don't actually meet. The point just goes around and around and their tied together, but they aren't actually together.