Love's Philosophy Irony

Love's Philosophy Irony

Religious irony

Love's Philosophy has some religious sentiment, such as the lines "the winds of heaven mix forever, with a sweet emotion." However, Shelley is ironically known for having radical religious beliefs.

Irony of nature

The speaker suggests that the love between himself and his subject is as natural as features seen in the natural world, such as the meeting of the river and the ocean. However, he also ironically suggests that his lover does not love him back, which surely means the connection is not natural.

Irony of cliché

The poem includes some cliché images and comparisons. As Shelley is considered to be an innovative and radical romantic poet, these images might be intended ironically. As such, this poem is often considered to be playful and less serious than Shelley's other poems.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Cite this page