Comparison

• similarities between winter swans + when we two parted

  natural imagery conveys emotions of separation in both poems

  • references to coldness + sadness -> 'the dew of the morning'
  • personification of clouds + swans -> 'the waterlogged earth'

  use of stanza length to communicate relationship status

  • continually separation through the even no. of stanzas + lines
  • 3 line stanzas to show separation through middle line + fine 2 line stanza to show reconciliation

  neither have perfect rhyme scheme

  • imperfect rhymes shows lack of harmony between the couple
  • certain rhymes shows growth of harmony
• differences between winter swans + when we two parted


  separation of couples at the end of the poems

  • remains separated as Byron answers his own rhetorical question
  • reunified as hands join + final stanza is only 2 lines

  perspective of narrative voice

  • one individual expressing pain from the relationship
  • narrative includes actions of both, making the poem more observational

  temporal focus

  • set in the past + full of reminiscing + emotional aftermath
  • present interaction with narrative unfolding in real time + culminating connections