Farmer's Bride

• "Three summers since I chose a maid"
• "Out 'mong the sheep, let her be, they said"
• "We chased her, flying like a hare"
• "We caught her, fetched her"
• " 'Not near, not near!' Her eyes beseech"
• "Her eyes, her hair, her hair!"
• "I hardly heard her speak at all"
• "To her wild self. But what to me?"
• "What's Christmas time without there be some others in the house than we!"
• Published in 1916 by Charlotte Mew
• written in the perspective of a man
• Mew was very depressed, and committed suicide in 1928
• She was thought to be homosexual
• Who is the author of the poem "The Farmer's Bride"?

  Charlotte Mew
• What serious subject matter does "The Farmer's Bride" contain?

  Dark themes related to marriage and power
• What voice is the poem written in?

  The voice of a farmer
• What does the title "The Farmer's Bride" imply about the power dynamic?

  The farmer holds complete power over her
• How does the farmer view his bride according to the poem?

  As more of an object than a person
• What societal norms does the poem reflect about marriage during that time?

  Marriage was about necessity, not love
• How does the farmer describe his bride's emotional state?

  She is afraid and traumatized
• What animal imagery is used to describe the bride?

  She is compared to a frightened fae
• What does the farmer's description of the bride suggest about her maturity?

  She is portrayed as childish and timid
• What does the farmer's lack of education imply about his character?

  He struggles to understand emotional needs
• What does the phrase "she should properly have been a bed" imply?

  Her role is to provide children and satisfy him
• How does the community react to the bride's attempt to escape?

  They condone her being brought back
• What does the imagery of the bride being like a mouse suggest?

  She is scared and tries to avoid him
• How does the bride's interaction with animals reflect her emotional state?

  She finds comfort with non-judgmental creatures
• What does the phrase "her eyes beseech" imply about the bride's feelings?

  She is begging for distance from him
• What does the farmer's rhetorical question reveal about his mindset?

  He feels entitled to her obedience
• How does the changing season reflect the farmer's emotional state?

  It creates a dark and ominous tone
• What does the farmer's desire for children signify?

  His longing for a traditional family
• What is the implication of the ambiguous ending of the poem?

  It suggests potential violence against the bride
• How does the farmer's use of animal imagery at the end reflect his view of the bride?

  He sees her as a possession, not a person
• What does the repetition of "her hair" signify in the final line?

  His overwhelming lust and loss of coherence
• What are the key themes in "The Farmer's Bride"?

  • Power dynamics in marriage
  • Patriarchal society and its impact
  • Fear and trauma in relationships
  • The objectification of women
  • The struggle for emotional connection
• How does Charlotte Mew use imagery in "The Farmer's Bride"?

  • Animal imagery to depict the bride's fear
  • Nature imagery to contrast human relationships
  • Symbolism of the seasons to reflect emotions
  • Use of rhetorical questions to express frustration
• What is the significance of the farmer's perspective in the poem?

  • Represents societal norms of the time
  • Highlights the lack of emotional intelligence
  • Illustrates the power imbalance in marriage
  • Provides insight into the character's motivations