Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral · Chapter
XII explained
The speaker resists temptation, commanding it to depart and refusing to be seduced by its enchanting allure.
What happens
The speaker resists temptation, commanding it to depart and refusing to be seduced by its enchanting allure.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This poem serves as the narrative climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak where the sp…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Virtue and Moral Guidance
The speaker actively resists temptation, affirming a commitment to moral virtue.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The speaker who addresses and rejects temptation.
Key passages
“But thou! Temptation hence away, With all thy fatal train Nor once seduce my soul away, By thine enchanting strain.”
Temptation, go away with all your deadly followers; do not even try to lead my soul astray with your bewitching song.
The speaker firmly rejects temptation, personifying it as a seductive force.
