It was begotten by Despair / Upon Impossibility.
-- Speaker (Lines 3 – 4)

Importance: In this line, the speaker imagines his love as a child, conceived by Despair with Impossibility. This metaphor invites the reader into the world of his love by picturing it as a person. It also introduces the theme of the personification of abstract ideas, which is central to the text. This vivid metaphor of conception lets the reader begin by feeling the speaker's emotions, while also introducing these thematic ideas.

Where feeble Hope could ne’er have flown
-- Speaker (Line 7)

Importance: The speaker here introduces a pessimistic worldview. He argues that hope is not capable of letting him experience love. Instead, it is despair that he has taken as his guide.

For Fate with jealous eye does see
-- Speaker (Line 13)

Importance: This line introduces the poem's antagonist, Fate. Fate is a jealous woman, watching the speaker fall in love. Her jealousy is not sexual, but related to power – she...