First love and sonnet 43

In contrast, the young naïve narrator in ‘First Love’ melodramatically expresses his uncontrollable love for the object of his affection. “He [I] ne’er was struck before that hour/ with love so sudden and so sweet”. The word struck relates to him being hit with one of cupid’s arrows suggesting he had no choice but to fall in love with her. By exaggerating each of his feelings the narrator implies that he has had an irrational response as he appears to believe that this one moment in life will scar him forever. This proposes that the poem’s structure will take the shape of a turbulent emotional outpouring.  

Another difference between the two romantic poems is the types of love they are describing. In “First love”, the narrarator sees love as something physical, describing  all the effects love has on his body, such as “His [my] legs [that] refused to walk away”, “Took his [my]eyesight quite away” and turned his face a “deadly pale”. The descriptions reflect on the changes that occur in a young man and how first love can lead to a confusing yet strong passionate desire. The personified legs suggest he belies that by staying where he is, his hope with her might increase. However, in “Sonnet 43”, the narrarator sees love as something that has to be build from a trusting friendship; for her, love is something spiritual, even religious. “I love thee to the level of every day's/most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.” Her feelings are deeper and controllably obsessive. “First love” is a romantic love that is inspired by a brief visual attraction rather than the love that grows as a result of friendship and familiarity.

In “Sonnet 43”, positive words are used for describing the narrarators undying love for her object of desire. “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height /my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight”. Her words give a much more sedated and calm impression than the free verses in “First Love”.