Eng

• Who is the author of the poem "One Flesh"?

  Elizabeth Jennings
• What is the main theme of the poem "One Flesh"?

  The evolution of love in relationships
• How does the narrator describe her parents' relationship?

  They have grown distant and routine
• What does the narrator observe about her father in the poem?

  He reads a book late into the night
• How does the narrator describe her mother in the poem?

  She dreams of childhood
• What does the phrase "all men elsewhere" suggest in the poem?

  Hope for change in their dull existence
• What literary device is used when the speaker states "all men elsewhere"?

  Hyperbole
• What does the speaker compare her parents to in the second stanza?

  Flotsam from a former passion
• What does the comparison to "corpses" imply about their relationship?

  Their love has died
• What does the term "chastity" imply in the context of the poem?

  Lack of physical love in their marriage
• How does the speaker describe the act of touching between her parents?

  It suggests little feeling or too much pain
• What does the speaker mean by "the death of passion"?

  Loss of physical and emotional intimacy
• What does the phrase "strangely apart yet strangely close together" suggest?

  Contradictory nature of their relationship
• How does the speaker view time in relation to her parents?

  As a feather gently touching them
• What does the speaker question at the end of the poem?

  Whether her parents know they are old
• What does the speaker's rhetorical question reveal?

  Her confusion about their relationship
• How does the poem reflect on the nature of love?

  It evolves from passion to commitment
• What does the title "One Flesh" signify?

  The unity of the parents and child
• How does the poem relate to Elizabeth Jennings' personal life?

  She never married
• What years did Elizabeth Jennings live?

  1926 to 2001
• What are the main observations made by the narrator in "One Flesh"?

  • Parents sleep in separate beds
  • Father reads, mother dreams of childhood
  • Their relationship has become routine
  • Lack of communication and intimacy
  • Reflection on love and future relationships
• What are the key themes explored in "One Flesh"?

  • Evolution of love over time
  • The contrast between passion and routine
  • The impact of aging on relationships
  • The nature of parental love
  • The mystery of future relationships
• What literary techniques are used in "One Flesh"?

  • Hyperbole to emphasize distance
  • Metaphor comparing love to corpses
  • Rhetorical questions to express confusion
  • Imagery of time as a feather
  • Symbolism of the bed as a deathbed
• How does the structure of "One Flesh" reflect its themes?

  • Three stanzas represent family dynamics
  • Each stanza explores different aspects of love
  • The progression mirrors the evolution of relationships
  • Finality in the last stanza reflects unresolved questions
• What does the poem suggest about the nature of parental love?

  • It is enduring and transformative
  • It includes commitment beyond physical attraction
  • It evolves as children grow
  • It remains a mystery until experienced