Love Sonnet XI by Pablo Neruda, Analysis & Summary

Introduction: This study guide offers an in-depth analysis of Pablo Neruda's poem "Love Sonnet XI." The guide explores the meaning and significance of each stanza, identifies major themes, and provides a critical examination of the poem's structure, language, sound devices, and other literary elements. It also delves into the attitudes and feelings expressed in the poem. Additionally, the guide suggests similar poems that share thematic connections with "Love Sonnet XI." Through this study guide, readers can gain a deeper appreciation for Neruda's lyrical style and his exploration of love and desire.

Poem Text

I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.
Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.
Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day
I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,
your hands the color of a savage harvest,
hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,
I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,
the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,
I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,

and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,
hunting for you, for your hot heart,
like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue.

Summary

Stanza 1: The speaker expresses a deep longing for their beloved, craving their presence and physical attributes. They wander the streets in silence, driven by an insatiable hunger to find traces of their loved one's existence.

Stanza 2: The speaker's hunger intensifies as they yearn for the sound of their beloved's laughter and the touch of their hands. They are captivated by the vivid imagery of the beloved's physical features, symbolized by the color of a bountiful harvest and the pale stones of their fingernails.

Stanza 3: The speaker's desire extends beyond the tangible aspects of their beloved. They long to consume the ethereal qualities embodied by their lover, such as the radiance of their body, the regal nose, and the fleeting shadows cast by their lashes.

Stanza 4: The speaker restlessly roams in search of their beloved, driven by an animalistic hunger. The comparison to a puma in the barren landscapes of Quitratue conveys the intensity and desperation of their pursuit.

Major Themes

Desire and Longing: "Love Sonnet XI" explores the theme of passionate desire and the yearning for connection with a loved one. The speaker's intense hunger and pursuit symbolize the depths of their longing.

The Power of Physicality: The poem emphasizes the physical aspects of love, portraying the speaker's desire to consume and possess their beloved's physical features. This highlights the sensuality and embodiment of love.

Critical Analysis

"Love Sonnet XI" is a passionate exploration of desire and longing. The poem vividly depicts the speaker's hunger for their beloved, using rich and evocative imagery to convey the intensity of their emotions. The poem's structure consists of four stanzas, each building upon the previous one to create a crescendo of desire. Neruda's language is sensuous and visceral, creating a palpable sense of yearning. Sound devices such as alliteration and internal rhyme enhance the poem's musicality, while the use of symbols and metaphors adds depth to its meaning. The poem captures the profound physicality of love, emphasizing the power it holds over the human experience.

Symbols:

• Hunger: Represents the speaker's intense desire and longing for the beloved.
• Twilight: Symbolizes the elusive nature of the beloved and the speaker's relentless pursuit.
• Puma: Represents the speaker's fierce determination and passionate pursuit of their loved one.

Language:

• Metaphorical expressions: The poem utilizes metaphors to convey the depth of the speaker's desire and the captivating qualities of the beloved.
• Vivid imagery: Neruda's language creates vivid visual imagery, heightening the sensory experience for the reader.

Structure:

• Stanzaic structure: The poem is divided into four stanzas, each contributing to the progression of the speaker's desire and the exploration of the theme.

Sound devices:

• Alliteration: The use of repeated consonant sounds enhances the musicality and rhythm of the poem.
• Internal rhyme: Occasional internal rhymes add to the poem's lyrical quality.

Other Literary Devices:

• Sensory language: The poem engages multiple senses through its vivid descriptions, appealing to the reader's imagination and emotions.
• Synecdoche: The use of synecdoche, such as referencing specific body parts, adds intimacy and intensity to the poem.

Attitudes/Feelings

• Intense Desire: The poem conveys a passionate and all-consuming longing for the beloved.
• Persistence: The speaker demonstrates relentless determination in their pursuit, highlighting the strength of their desire.

Similar Poems

• "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare: Both poems explore the depths of love and desire. They examine the enduring nature of love and the profound connection between lovers, albeit from different perspectives and styles.
• "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot: These poems share a common theme of unfulfilled longing and the struggle to express and attain love. They delve into the complexities of desire and the fear of rejection.