Richard Lovelace was one of the most attractive and witty poets of the early 17th century. Throughout this century his poems spoke of the love and honor of standing up for what one truly stands for. Lovelace had attractive looks and a political mind that took him too many places in his life. Lovelace lived a life of poetic success in his lifetime. Some of his life decisions have brought him down from his former glory days. Lovelace's political works led him to be an influential poet, political strategist, and teacher (NNDB). Richard Lovelace was born in 1618 which, according to records, was Woolwich, Kent or Holland. Lovelace was the eldest of all eight children. His father and mother are Sir William Lovelace and Anne Barne Lovelace. He also has four brothers and three sisters. Sir William Lovelace came from a distinguished military and legal family who owned many properties in Kent. His father was a member of the Virginia Company in 1609 and was killed during the war with Spain and Holland at the siege of Grol. Richard was only nine years old when his father died. Lovelace's mother was related to many important and wealthy people during Queen Elizabeth's time. When Lovelace was only eleven he went to the Sutton Foundation at Charterhouse School and then to London. During his five years of study at Charterhouse he spent three years with a man called Richard Crashaw who also became a poet. According to the documents, many believed that Richard did not attend Charterhouse because no financial assistance had been arranged for him like the other scholars, meaning that he had perhaps studied as a boarder of some kind. On 5 May 1631 he was appointed “Gentleman Wayter Extraordinary” by the king. His studies there ended in 1634 when he then went to Glouc...... middle of paper ...... imprisoned in 1642 or 1648. The poem is about love, prison and punishment. In the first verse Lovelace talks about his dear Althea who came to visit him while he was in prison and about him being able to see her and talk to her. In his second verse he talks about the nature and freedom he no longer has because of his loyal heart in helping the king. In his third verse he talks about singing to his great majesty and singing of his freedom and the glories of the king. In the last verse he talks about how prison is not made of stone walls and barred gates and that he is free through his love and freedom. ReferencesApplebee, Arthur N., et al. The language of literature: British literature. Evanston, IL:McDougal Little Inc. 2006. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/349554/Richard-Lovelace http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/lovelace/http://www.nndb .com/people/984/000097693/