# Much and More explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

A meditation on the nature of love, urging the heart to distinguish between the gift of love and the giver, and to love the divine source of love above all else.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love as Ultimate Strength

The poem exalts love as the central force, urging the heart to love higher and deeper, culminating in love for the divine creator.

## Character check-ins

### Love

Referred to as the 'love-creating lover' and 'love's keeper', the ultimate source and object of love.

### Unknown

The speaker addressing the heart, urging deeper love for the divine.

## Key lines

> When thy heart, love-filled, grows graver, And eternal bliss looks nearer, Ask thy heart, nor show it favour, Is the gift or giver dearer?

When your heart becomes more serious with love and eternal happiness seems close, honestly question whether you cherish the gift itself or the one who gives it.

_The core question of the poem, distinguishing between love for the created and love for the creator._

> Love, love on; love higher, deeper; Let love’s ocean close above her; Only, love thou more love’s keeper, More, the love-creating lover.

Continue loving, but love more profoundly and transcendently; let yourself be immersed in love, but above all, love the one who guards love and the one who creates love.

_The resolution: to love the divine source of love even more than the experience of love itself._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/much-and-more
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters