Love poem analysis: Sloan Warner

In "Love is not all" written by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the poem is effective in using differing syntax and of course uses the sonnet format to portray love, as sonnets are often used to profess love in a poem. Throughout the poem, there are long, seemingly unending sentences talking about how love is not a must have, and it is not nearly as important in survival as, "meat [or] drink," or a, "roof against the rain," and , "can not fill the thickened lung with breath". The long, first sentence moves quickly through the audience's mind and gets the point across that love is not integral to life. However, there is a stark contrast in the syntax of the final lines of the poem versus the beginning of the poem. The final line is comprised of a four word sentence and a six word sentence. This is important because the overall meaning of the poem is stated here and the syntax sticks out from the poem and allows the audience to hone in particular what is being said here. What is said in the final line is that even if given the chance to exchange love for necessities for survival, the speaker would not take it. Secondly, the stylistic choice of making this a sonnet, is effective because it signifies love. In addition, it allows for the final couplet to be more meaningful which is where Millay makes her strongest point about love.