Love's Language: A Force of Nature in "I Was Reading a Scientific Article" Anonymous 12th Grade

Loving someone involves unearthing them: getting to know someone intimately, from their strengths to their weaknesses. Margaret Atwood explores this perspective on romance in her poem, “I Was Reading a Scientific Article” which portrays a speaker who is eager to get to know their lover better. Through the speaker’s relationship, Atwood uses scientific language and imagery to show the myriad of emotions that come with falling in love.

Atwood first uses scientific syntax to express the sense of wonder that comes with loving someone. The speaker uses specific language and imagery, describing their lover’s skull as “crowded with radiant suns”. Atwood’s word choice paints a strikingly beautiful image of the lover, utilizing the positive connotations of light to show the influence they have over the speaker. Additionally, the use of the word “crowded” shows how the lover’s nature is so bright, they are almost overwhelming to the speaker. This creates a tone of amazement as if the speaker doesn’t comprehend their lover’s existence, mirroring the attitude of scientists making a great discovery that they cannot understand. To emphasize the speaker’s feelings, Atwood doesn’t merely use a bright object, such as a candle, but instead...