LOVE CYCLE
Short Answers:
1. When and where was ‘Love Cycle’ published?
‘Love Cycle’ was first published as part of the collection “From Beware Soul Brother and Other
Poems” in 1971. In that same year, it was republished in the United States as part of the poetry collection
“Christmas in Biafra and Other Poems”.
2.Who is the speaker in ‘Love Cycle?’
The speaker is an unnamed but keen observer of nature; he may be the poet himself. In ‘Love Cycle,’
he presents himself as a sharp narrator who personified the nature with men and women.
3.Write a brief note on the poem ‘Love cycle’?
‘Love Cycle' by Chinua Achebe portrays the sun's effect on Earth as a hardly romantic relationship.
The poem describes the couple: the sun, an angry male, and the earth, a tolerant female.
4.Why is the poem given by the title ‘Love Cycle’?
'Love Cycle' by Chinua Achebe portrays on how the sun shows its anger during dawn and keeps
gentle during night. It plays in a circle of being angry and gentle. Thus, its an Love cycle of emotions.
5. What is the conclusion of the poem ‘Love Cycle’?
Love Cycle concludes by mentioning on how moonlight being a gentle reflection of the sun's rays,
because of this the earth brings its power over her partner.
6.What are the themes of the poem ‘Love Cycle’?
The central theme explored in ‘Love Cycle’ is nature. The themes of unhealthy relationships, anger,
endurance, and power can also be seen.
7. Who waits patiently for the evening in love Cycle?
The Earth always waits patiently for the sun to have a shift in his mood. Hence the earth waits in the
evenings for the sun to approach her and wishes that he becomes more caring and affectionate.
Paragraph Answers:
1.Summarize the poem ‘Love Cycle’?
‘Love Cycle’ opens with the persona describing the attitude of the sun at dawn. One can imagine the
sun’s withdrawal from embrace which mean its light isn’t fixated on anything. This says how widespread
and scattered the sun’s rays are at this time. Unlike at afternoon, the rays aren’t locked on any surface; they
aren’t harsh as well. The persona portrays the interaction between the two entities as a relationship between a
couple, the nature of their relationship is emotionless. The persona calls the sun and Earth “happy lovers, it
gives the theme of nature by representing the attitude of Earth at dawn. The dawn gives way to afternoon.
Again, the persona portrays the sun as a man with anger. Like his temper, the speaker predicts the “soft-eyed
light” representing the sun’s rays at dawn, will grow hot with time. The speaker tells us that within that time,
the sun will become harsh with his rays. The Earth brings the attitude of patience and tolerance to the sun’s
harshness. “Burning darts of anger” refers to the rays fixated on Earth, as the speaker predicted. The earth
absorbs the harsh light the same way as woman tolerates her partner’s temper while swallowing her own. It
also gives the themes of tolerance and patience. The persona reveals the reasons why Earth tolerates the
sun’s harshness. From the metaphorical perspective, the woman stays in a clearly unhealthy relationship
because at night, her partner’s gentleness returns. The tone the stanza states that the man becomes soft
because he wants her to make love to him. At this point, the theme of power plays comes in. The woman
takes advantage of these moments where she has full power over her partner. It is the reason that even Earth
tolerates the harshness of the sun during the day. At night, sunlight becomes gentle through the reflective
surface of the moon. The persona guesses Earth tolerates the sun for these moments of freedom and relief.
2. Write a note on the poet Chinua Achebe?
Chinua Achebe was born on 16 November 1930 and died on 21 March 2013, he was a Nigerian
novelist, poet, and critic who is well known person in African literature. He is majorly known for his debut
novel, Things Fall Apart (1958). He got national and international awards, Chinua Achebe also published
short stories, poetry collections, and essays during his lifetime. From 1990 to 2009, Achebe taught at Bard
College, after which he taught at Brown University for four years. Among others and besides his debut novel
his notable works are Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and There Was A Country (2012).
Achebe believes in writing down the unfiltered truth good or bad. Achebe lived 82 years and died on 21
March 2013. Love Cycle’ by Chinua Achebe portrays the sun’s effect on Earth as a hardly romantic
relationship. The poem describes the couple: the sun, an angry male, and the earth, a tolerant female. At this
time, the poem compares the interaction between the sun and Eartth
Essay:
Introduction:
Chinua Achebe was born on 16 November 1930 and died on 21 March 2013, he was a Nigerian
novelist, poet, and critic who is well known person in African literature. He is majorly known for his debut
novel, Things Fall Apart (1958). He got national and international awards, Chinua Achebe also published
short stories, poetry collections, and essays during his lifetime. Love Cycle’ by Chinua Achebe portrays the
sun’s effect on Earth as a hardly romantic relationship. The poem describes the couple: the sun, an angry
male, and the earth, a tolerant female. At this time, the poem compares the interaction between the sun and
Earth.
Description of their relationship:
‘Love Cycle’ opens with the persona describing the attitude of the sun at dawn. One can imagine the
sun’s withdrawal from embrace which mean its light isn’t fixated on anything. This says how widespread
and scattered the sun’s rays are at this time. Unlike at afternoon, the rays aren’t locked on any surface; they
aren’t harsh as well. The persona portrays the interaction between the two entities as a relationship between a
couple, the nature of their relationship is emotionless. The persona calls the sun and Earth “happy lovers, it
gives the theme of nature by representing the attitude of Earth at dawn.
Patience of Earth:
The dawn gives way to afternoon. Again, the persona portrays the sun as a man with anger. Like his
temper, the speaker predicts the “soft-eyed light” representing the sun’s rays at dawn, will grow hot with
time. The speaker tells us that within that time, the sun will become harsh with his rays. The Earth brings the
attitude of patience and tolerance to the sun’s harshness. “Burning darts of anger” refers to the rays fixated
on Earth, as the speaker predicted. The earth absorbs the harsh light the same way as woman tolerates her
partner’s temper while swallowing her own. It also gives the themes of tolerance and patience.
Reason behind tolerance:
The persona reveals the reasons why Earth tolerates the sun’s harshness. From the metaphorical
perspective, the woman stays in a clearly unhealthy relationship because at night, her partner’s gentleness
returns. The tone the stanza states that the man becomes soft because he wants her to make love to him. At
this point, the theme of power plays comes in. The woman takes advantage of these moments where she has
full power over her partner. It is the reason that even Earth tolerates the harshness of the sun during the day.
At night, sunlight becomes gentle through the reflective surface of the moon. The persona guesses Earth
tolerates the sun for these moments of freedom and relief.
Conclusion:
The central theme explored in ‘Love Cycle’ is nature. The themes of unhealthy relationships, anger,
endurance, and power can also be seen. Hence, the poem gives an outlook of nature tolerance with
representing it to the women’s tolerance to all men.
