Cousin Kate

• What metaphor describes Kate's love in the poem?


  Kate's love was childish and temporary
• What does the phrase "your love was writ in the sand" suggest?


  It implies that the love was fleeting and easily erased
• What does the simile "you changed my like a glove" suggest about Kate's situation?


  It suggests how easily she was cast aside and her lack of power
• What image is used to show Kate as innocent?


  "might have been a dove"
• What does the phrase "Stronger wings" imply about Kate's future?


  It suggests she will be able to marry the Lord and rise in status
• What does the phrase "bound with his ring" suggest about Kate's freedom?


  It implies that her freedom is undermined by her marriage to the Lord
• What does the line "You sit in gold and sing" imply about Kate's status?


  It suggests she is treated as a possession rather than a person
• What traditional metaphor is used to describe a child in the poem?


  "Yet I have a gift you have not got"
• What contradiction is highlighted in the speaker's assertion about her son?


  Her son is both her "shame" and her "pride"
• What literary device is used in the assonance of "woe", "moan", and "howl"?


  It emphasizes the speaker's sense of sorrow
• What does the alliteration in "Cling closer, closer yet" emphasize?


  It emphasizes the love she has for her son and her fear of losing him
• What nouns are repeated to contrast with the narrator being an "outcast thing"?

  "Good and pure"
• What oxymoron describes the narrator's life with the Lord?


  "Shameless, shameful life"
• What quote shows the narrator as innocent and vulnerable to the Lord?

  "contended with my cottage mates, not mindful I was fair"
• What effective verbs show that Kate was stalked and is a victim?


  "He saw you", "he chose you", "he watched your steps"
• What does the repetition of the phrase "and praise my flaxen hair...to fill my heart with care?" indicate?


  It shows that she is innocent but also angry
• How does the tone shift in the last stanza regarding cousin Kate?

  Cousin Kate is finally happy, but the speaker knows the Lord will find another woman
• What does the line "For all your clothes and wedding ring, I've little doubt you fret" imply?


  It suggests that the speaker believes the Lord will seek another woman
• What does the phrase "your sire would give broad lands for one to wear his coronet" suggest about the Lord's intentions?


  It implies that the Lord is likely to pursue other women for marriage
• What are the main themes explored in the poem regarding Kate and the narrator?

  • Manipulation and power dynamics in relationships
  • Innocence and vulnerability of women
  • The contrast between social status and personal worth
  • The emotional turmoil of motherhood and societal expectations
• What literary devices are prevalent in the poem and their effects?


  • Metaphor: Illustrates fleeting love and innocence
  • Simile: Highlights vulnerability and powerlessness
  • Oxymoron: Conveys the complexity of the narrator's life
  • Assonance and alliteration: Enhance emotional depth and tone
• How does the poem reflect societal views on women and marriage during its context?


  • Women are often viewed as possessions
  • Marriage can limit personal freedom
  • Societal expectations create emotional conflict
  • The stigma of having children out of wedlock