SEDRICK H.

SERRA BS PSYCHOLOGY 1B
KHALIFA M. HANAPI

“Song: To Celia” by Ben Johnson

Drink to me, only, with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kisse but in the cup,
And Ile not look for wine.
The thirst, that from the soule doth rise,
Doth aske a drink divine:
But might I of Jove's Nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee, late, a rosie wreath,
Not so much honoring thee,
As giving it a hope, that there
It could not withered be.
But thou thereon did'st onely breathe,
And sent'st it back to mee:
Since when it growes, and smells, I sweare,
Not of it selfe, but thee.

Part I.

1. Form
It is a lyric dominated by two images; wine and the rosy wreath.

2. Type of Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme

Type of Rhyme: it is a sixteen-line iambic poem written in four quatrains. The second content of
the poem divides after the second quatrain to form octets to show two different scenes.
Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is ABCB, ABCB until a change in line nine to DEFE with
one slant rhyme pair. The change in rhyme scheme from ABCB to DEFE represents a change in
the tone of the poem while staying true to its sing-song nature.

3. Image/s that are prominent

 ROSE: archetypal symbol of love in the English tradition. The wreath consists of a
number of roses woven into a circle, which is itself a symbol of eternity.
 WINE : implies intoxication, the delirium of love, but also sensual gratification. The
substitutes that the poet is willing to accept seem more ethereal: the glance, the kiss in a
cup.
 4. Figure/s of speech
The "Song:To Celia" is an epigram that applauds love. The author, Ben Johnson, incorporates
figurative language such as personification for example "Time will not be ours forever : He, at
length, our good will sever" to personify "time" and how it lives forever.

5. Mood/Tone
Tone is the emotional attitude of a writer or speaker. In "Song: On Celia," the speaker conveys in
the opening stanza the intensity of his love-sickness for Celia. His love for her is deep, but it can
live on very little from her.

6. Theme
The theme of “Song: To Celia" is transcendent love. So intense is the poet's feelings for Celia
and she need only drink to him with a loving gaze. For his turn, the poet says, he needs no wine
to inspirit his love, for it is his soul that thirsts. Only the transcendence of divine love can quench
his thirst.

Part II.

This poem is all about a man being madly in love with woman and doing whatever it takes to get
her to say yes to being with him. The poem is very lovable and touching poem because a man is
doing everything to his love one. We can say that love is the most powerful feeling in this world
so if you love someone go fight for it because at the end of the day love will always win.

Part III.

Question: Is the girl’s returning the flowers a sign of acceptance or rejection?

The wreath of roses in the poem symbolizes the writer's growing love for the woman he desires.
And the girl's action of returning the flowers back is actually a sign of rejection. Giving it back
and not receiving it can be a woman's other way of saying that she's actually not interested.

A man professing his love in that manner can flatter a woman. hence, she'd accept it and not
return it back for it would make her feel special. With this, the woman's action of returning it
back to him can mean that she's disclaiming this love that he has for her.