Analysis Poetry

So We'll Go No More a Roving

So, we'll go no more a roving
  So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
  And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,
  And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
  And love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,
  And the day returns too soon,
Yet we'll go no more a roving
  By the light of the moon.

by George Gordon, Lord Byron

Paraphrase

Lines 1-2

The word "rove" means "wander" or "roam."  There's a "we," so it's possible talking to somebody else (a buddy, a girlfriend). "so we'll go no more a roving. He could be saying his life is drawing to a close, that the time for play is over, and that he must prepare for old age and death. So late into the night." it's time stop wandering around aimlessly late into the night.

Lines 3-4

The point of "still as loving” mean “heart is very much alive” that’s mean very much emotionally ready to go. Word “rove” same with “love”. Even though “the moon is still really bright” (meaning they still be able to see). Well why stop roving when the heart still wants to, meaning there comes a time when you have to stop “wandering and messing around” or we can say “very subtly” or “the approach of death”. Sure, the poem talk about fears of getting old and fears of "roving".

Rhythm

The meter of " So We'll Go No More a Roving ", there are two kinds of meter :

·         Check line 1: “So We'll Go No More a Roving“ that’s iambic trimeter.

·         Check line 4: “And the moon be still as bright” that’s Anapestic iambic trimeter

Rhyme

The poem is printed in three stanzas of four lines each, these are called quatrains. The poem also rhymes, with a rhyme scheme that looks like this: ABAB.

So, we'll go no more a roving                                                             A
So late into the night,                                                                         B
Though the heart be still as loving,                                                     A
And the moon be still as bright.                                                         B

Figurative language

“ So We'll Go No More a Roving “ has one figurative language. That is Metaphor.

Symbols

Roving

Roving means wandering or roaming; it is associated in this poem with youth and symbolizes a host of youthful or childish activities that one outgrows.

Lines 1-2: The speaker says he'll go no more a roving so late into the night. In other words, he's not going to stay out late getting crazy anymore. Roving here symbolizes youthful and purposeless activities.

The night

It literally talks a lot about nighttime, the time of the day that is ideal for roving, the time when loving goes down.

Lines 1-2: The speaker says they'll go no more a roving late into the night. 

Subject matter

The subject matter of this poem is about”LOVE”

Theme

The theme of this poem is “the approach of death”

Reason

The speaker has decided to call it a day, with his partying and wandering around at night. He still sort of wants to be out there, having a great time, and darn, that moon is still beckoning to him. At some point, though, it gets old. It's kind of like getting new shoes when you're young; your feet get bigger, and it's time to get new ones. Same idea here, only instead of new shoes, it's new ways to spend one's time ("older" ways).