When We Two Parted

• Describe the structure of the poem

  • the rhythm used is not uniform -  creates an awkward and hesitant sensation that mirrors the narrator’s emotional state
  • regular rhythm and rhyme which is highly controlled - evident that the speaker has given considerable thought and reflection and embodies a sense of profound contemplation
  • irregular line lengths - a conversational tone and adds authenticity to the speaker’s sadness
• language

  • vivid imagery - convey the speaker's emotions towards the woman
  • various tenses -  circular structure and this indicates that the poet is unable to move forward and is trapped in their distress
  • allusions to death and loss - The speaker expresses a deep sense of loss, indicating that he is mourning the loss of his beloved - "pale", "sever", "knell" and "grieve"
  • Foreshadowing - speakers realisation of the inevitable end of the relationship
• Romanticism


  Sought to celebrate the individual's freedom of expression and emotions
• Context

  • Men in victorian era were Expected to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour- restrain themselves when it came to emotional and sexual desires
  • these behaviors could be subject to enormous hypocrisy, as gentlemen could keep up the appearance of respectability but act quite differently in secret
• "In silence and tears,

  Half broken-hearted"


  Byron uses diction associated with pain, such as "silence and tears" and "Half broken-hearted" to depict the sorrow, anguish and vulnerability of the speaker following the end of the relationship.
• "Pale grew thy cheek and cold,

  Colder thy kiss;"


  The imagery of "pale" and "cold" symbolises the fading affection of the lover, intensifying the speaker's sense of loss. The repetition of "cold" emphasises the emotional distance and death-like finality of the separation.
• "Thy vows are all broken,

  And light is thy fame"


  The use of "broken vows" highlights the feelings of betrayal and loss of trust in the relationship. Describing the lover's fame as "light" suggests a superficial or fleeting nature, which is contrasted with the depth of the speaker's emotions.
• "A knell to mine ear;

  A shudder comes o'er me—"


  The metaphor of a "knell", with its connotations of death, creates a sombre tone, illustrating the speaker's pain upon hearing the lover's name. The physical reaction of "shudder" also conveys the emotional impact of the speaker's profound grief.
• "Long, long shall I rue thee,

  Too deeply to tell."


  The repetition of "long" conveys the enduring nature of the speaker's regret and sorrow. The phrase "too deeply to tell" conveys speaker's inability to fully articulate their anguish.
• "In secret we met —

  In silence I grieve."


  The juxtaposition of "secret" and "silence" highlights the clandestine nature of the relationship and the speaker's private sorrow. This reinforces the theme of secrecy and the emotional burden of unexpressed grief.
• "That thy heart could forget,

  Thy spirit deceive."


  The speaker expresses disbelief and pain over the lover's ability to forget and deceive. The use of "heart" and "spirit" suggests a betrayal of both emotion and integrity, deepening the speaker's sense of betrayal and loss.
• "If I should meet thee

  After long years."


  The hypothetical scenario of a future encounter underscores the speaker's lingering attachment and unresolved emotions towards the lover. This reflects the theme of enduring sorrow and the inability to fully move on from the past.
• "How should I greet thee?—

  With silence and tears."


  The repetition of "silence and tears" reinforces the poem's central theme of sorrow and emotional pain. This final line encapsulates the speaker's enduring grief and inability to find closure, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved longing.
• "They know not I knew thee,

  Who knew thee too well —"

  Byron highlights the speaker's inner conflict, juxtaposing the secrecy of their past relationship with the speaker's intimate knowledge of their former lover. The juxtaposition of "know" and "knew" underscores the speaker's intimate familiarity.