English poetry
Cards (20)
- about a couple experiencing conflict whilst they walk by a lake but once they see the swans the conflict settles due to nature having a positive impact
- ”The clouds have given their all-two days of rain and then a break in which we walked“ ( winter swans )“two days of rain reflects their conflict”-pathetic fallacy-nature is advocating everything to be in couples“clouds have given their all”-clouds are drainedmirroring the speaker“in which we walked”-alliteration-w sounds imitates question words show theunresolved conflictenjambement-shows the issues are very on going
- “Until the swans came and stopped us with a show of tipping in unison as if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads“ (winter swans )”until”-conjunction-indicates shift-nature has intervened.”us”inclusive pronoun-speaker still sees them as a partnership“as if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads“-simile-couple must not be scared of delving deep into their issues-“weights“ reflect the burden of their relationship however the swans have learnt to deal with it
- “I noticed our hands ,that had,somehow swum the distance between us” (winter swans)”swum the distance“-metaphor-symbolises how physically and closer they are“I noticed“-reconciliation-wasn’t planned-swans have inspired this in a natural way-caesura-indicates hesitation-one wrong move could end the relationship“somehow swam“-sibilance-creates a peaceful tone and an end to their indifferences
- The structure winter swan-six irregular stanzas but the last stanza is a couplet suggesting their conflict has been resolved-organised in tercets(three lined stanzas)-has no rhyme or rhythm-reflects their turbulent nature of their relationship-Volta occurs in line 14 “porcelain over the stilling water“-troubled waters of their relationship become still starting the reconciliation
- Context winter swans-Owen sheer is a Welsh poet born in 1974 so winter swans is a contemporary poem-sheers’ uses nature to enhance meaning-part of the collection “skirrid hill” which means “shattered mountains“ which can be symbolic of divorce and separation which are key themes in this Poem
- Negative weather in porohyrias lover sets the deep and uncanny mood
- “The rain came early into-night The sullen wind was soon awake it tore the elm-tops down for spite and did its worst to vex the lake“(porphyria Lover)“early”-foreshadows surprising events to occur later“sullen wind”-personification shows speakers misery reflected through weather“it tore the elm-tops down for spite“-personification-aggressive violence-the wind is being malicious reflects the speaker’s psyche“vex“-verb-the wind is vindictive and the lake is a still and silent victim, mirroring porphyria‘s later passivity“in to-night“-hints speakers pessimistic mood
- "Straight she shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm"(porphyria’s lover)”straight she shut”sibilance reflects calming nature and shows porphyria‘s ethereal qualitiesorfrightening tone foreboding later events“cheerless grate“personification to show how the speakers emotions of neglect just as the cottage is”cold” “warm”Porphyria metaphorically warms the speakerporphyria‘s presence warms the cottage although it’s cold“kneeled“-verb shows the speakers power complex
- ”And I untightened next the tress about her neck ; her cheek once more blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:” (porphyria’s lover)“next tress neck”-assonance-rhythm behind his actionsliked he’s enjoying untying her hair“And”-conjunction-action is following logical order-connotes methodical approach to the murder“blushed bright beneath“-bilabial plosive alliterationmimics his besting heart and excitement-violent“bright“-he sees beauty and light within his distorted mindset
- -Porphyria‘s lover is wrote in the form of a dramatic dialogue to show the unreliable perspective of the speaker-written in a single stanza-Regular rhyme scheme which shows how the act was premeditated and planned
- structure and context porphyria’s lover-Robert browning who wrote porphyria’s lover was an important Victorian poet-Victorian era was known for its sense of morality,religious beliefs social class and attitudes towards women.-public and private life were different-browning was known for dramatic monologues voiced by dark personas-poem shows jealous and possessive murder but also shows consequences of women who deviate from norms and values of Victorian society
- “The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean,/The winds of heaven mix for ever with a sweet emotion“(loves philosophy)-nature connects without worrying about shame honour and religion“wind of heaven“-element of air suggests sexual intimacy is as natural as breathing“sweet”-he is willing to woo her in a chivalrous way-adjective”fountains mingling“-personification-mirrors relationship with men and women and how it should be fluid
- ”see the mountains kiss high heaven and the waves clasp one another“ (loves philosophy)“kiss” “clasp”-verb-”kiss” and “clasp” are getting more explicit“Mountains kiss high heaven“-personification-shows Pure intentions“high heaven“alliteration mimics deep breathing showing speakers passion
- “What is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me“ (love philosophy)-philosophical question to end the poem-gods creation is meaningless if the speaker cannot get a kiss“”work worth“-alliteration-shows speakers confusion to why she won’t kiss him-ambiguous-Gods work or the speakers work to get with the girl-speaker is running out of hope and ideas“thou”-direct address-assertive and demanding an answer
- loves philosophy structure-ends with rhetorical question showing speakers longing for intimacy goes unresolved-poem is short and concise adding impact as a persuasive message-half rhymes in the poem shows the speakers discord of the situation
- Loves philosophy context-Percy Shelly was a romantic poet and atheist-caused a scandal during religious era-expelled from Oxford for his views-he had many scandalous relationships-died young so maybe that’s why his poems focuses of passionate love
- “When us was wed she turned afraid of love and me and all things human like the shut of winters day” (farmers bride)“us”-inclusive pronoun-farmer sees the, as a couple despite her hostility-desires a partnership”when wed”-alliteration-suggests confusion and sadnessrepetition on “and”-polysyndeton-adds to impression of her being overwhelmed“like the shut of a winters day“-simile—emphasises how quickly she withdraws-connotes her coldness towards her husband
- “Why as a leveret as he, straight and slight as a young larch tree,sweet as the first wild violet,she,To her wild self. But what to me?”(farmers bride)”as a leveret”-simile reinforces how introverted and vulnerable the wife is.-zoomorphism (human being compared to animal)shows her lack of understanding of social expectations.”as a young larch tree”-simile-timid and inexperienced“sweet”-farmer desires her physically but keeps objectifying her-patriarchy“wild”-refuses to conform to gender expectations-still thinks she can be passionate.“Me”-desire to be seem
- “she sleeps up in the attic there/Alone,poor maid.” ‘Tis but a stair/betwixt us“(farmers bride)“she sleeps“-sibilance-conveys the helplessness he feels.-lack of communication“attic“-distance between them has increased“alone“-adjective-reveals the speakers sympathy for his bride-mournful tone“stairs”-connotation to obstacles between them-shows the emotional distance is insurmountable —enjambment reinforces their separation.