Clear and gentle stream

• Form for clear and gentle stream?

  • Regular rhythmic hymn
  • 4 verses unusual rhyme scheme
  • Repetition of name shows flow of water: unchanged and always flowing freely
  • Tone: nostalgic
• Clear and gentle stream verse 1 quote

  ‘Self same strain’

  Sibilance: singing same song
• clear and gentle stream verse 2 quote

  ‘Swans stray sailing’

  Sibilance: describes natural beauty around him

  Repetition of s gives reader feel of movement and tranquility
• Clear and gentle stream last verse quote

  ‘thee to hear again’

  Personification: stream can hear him and its familiar (like when he was a boy)
• Context for clear and gentle stream

  • Emotive and rhythmical poetry
  • Praised nature
  • Very religious, admiration for healing benediction of the natural world
  • Although he is older the stream affects him the same