Poem analysis: Love and relationships video notes

Page 1

When we two parted

Lord Byron :

-Romantic Poet, hugely popular

-Early life of poverty , but inherited riches at the age of 10

-Extremely popular with women and conducted a vast number of affairs with women of high status and, rumours suggested, his half sister

-Based on a relationship

-Focuses on human nature rather than natural world

-Lyric poem - no story/ emotions

-perceived at deceitful

-aware of how he was perceived in the public eye-painted idea as he was perfect gentleman and the treacherous women broke his heart-victimizes himself

- example of accentual verse - 2 stresses syllable counts

-line 5 ,7 break this rule (contain 3 stressed syllables) Describes moment when rejected by his lover . Broken and rejected, thus the poem structure is broken too. breaking of structure reflects shock.

-sensory description 'colder' ,

relationship sensory pleasure

-Ambiguity , 'half-broken hearted'; either was was broken hearted and the other had little interest, or both were partially broken hearted. Theme of relationship being unequal.

-Paints himself passive victim- Byron broken hearted (interpretation)

-rhyme scheme follows that of a sonnet (love poetry) The poem begins with the rhyme scheme of a sonnet but falls out of this structure , " Thy vows are all broken" , previous line '.'- sudden break to suggest the two had a loving relationship worthy of a sonnet form before heard of latest infidelity.

same quote -present tense

Shift in tense backs up idea that things changed since latest information. Felt strongly toward his lover prior to hearing about her latest infidelity- cheated, feeling of love disappeared.

Present tense- moment discovers her affair- broken vows

full stop- stop to his feelings

Vows- Vows they made to each other, language of marriage to suggest their love as sacred as marriage relationship.

Knell -bell at funeral.

When he hears about her cheat- emotionally broken

Structure

-3 different time frames

suggest that the pain inflicted on him will last forever- painted as victim

'thee' - Ancient language ( love is timeless- sacred love poet supposedly felt) Archaic word felt out of fashion in 17th cent

Ending

Ends in similar fashion to that it began

Final line, meeting in silence direct repetition of opening sentence of the parting

reflects cyclical nature of poets feeling

cannot get over love and stuck in emotions

Anaphora in final verse in secret we met in silence we grieve

repetition

doomed to repetitive nature, feelings of loss and grief structure similar to opening line stuck in

stuck in inescapable, repetitive, cyclical nature of relationship

Grammatical

"In silence I grieve"

Poetic inversion - varied word order

ordering of words greater emphasis on silence

Reaction is silence -poem to be made silent ( greatest sign of distress, loses ability to communicate- clearly broken )

Page 2

Love's Philosophy

Percy Shelley

- Romantic Poet

-Was expelled from University for writing in favour of atheism

-Wrote exclusively for himself rather than the public

-Pacifist

Poem

- focuses entirely on the natural world

-Fits into the romantic poetry theme

(nothing in the world is on its own)

Structured as a two part argument

final line- questioning why

Cohesively persuading his lover to be physical

Lyric poem or dramatic monologue

Lyric:

emotional

not telling story- expressing thoughts and feelings

No progression it is one main idea

Shelley uses religious imagery in a satirical way- against religion

Dramatic monologue:

Single person talking to someone else - silent listener

follows form - speaker talking directly to someone who is a silent listener

ask question- demanding domineering

no reply- seems like it is unimportant

Structure:

formal argument

5 clear assertions in each stanza

List of factual statements

Rhetorical question- the weight of the argument is stronger, main point is accurate which is backed up my the facts previously made

Repeats argument- demanding, will not take no for an answer

almost as though the first stanza was not successful

The speaker becomes more desperate as the poem progresses

earth based imagery -stanza 1

more celstial, wider imagery, outside of the earth- stanza, ' sunlight'

widening scope of imagery reflects a desperation in the speaker

verb uses begin gentle , 'mix' ,'mingle'

clasp and kiss language reflects the speaker's growing frustration and a sense of urgency

The rhyme scheme

- a combination of masculine and feminine rhyme

'river and ever' - masc.

ocean and emotion- fem.

these alternating lines of feminine and masculine rhyme mingles together just like the speaker would like himself and his lover to mingle together

The rhyme scheme reflects the mingling of masc and fem deliberate choice of the poem

Semi colon

argument linked just like nature is linked and him and his lover should be together

all the same

? indicates her hesitation stops the natural way the poem is flowing and how things should be from the speaker's point of view

Natural imagery;

Personification ' winds with sweet emotion'

Human attributes

Back up line of argument

speaker wants to draw parallels with what is happening in nature and the relationship

personification forces parallel

over use shows desperation from the speaker

it also shows the natural world giving, receiving and benefiting from love. Emphasizes how love itself is natural and necessary

Page 3

Porphyria's Lover

Focuses on Attitude to Victorian women

Often focused on morbid, twisted and psychological states

Mental health was misunderstood at the time

It is suggested that Porphyria is of a higher class as it means the colour purple which represents royalty.

Dramatic monologue- style

Stanza 1

language to suggest he is a psychopathic lover

The poet establishes the speakers mood before Porphyria arrives

Personification of the weather, sullen, spiteful

Pathetic fallacy - setting reflect mood

paints the speaker as irrational

the weather is aggressive, against him

The imablance and paranoia in the speaker

Dramatic shifts in language from negative to positive 'glides' - angelic, supernatural

contrast the negativity which proceeds it

poetic inversion - " When glided in Porphyria"

focus on glided through poetic inversion

irrational throughts of the speaker

" and, last, she sat down by my side"

Last- surrounded by bracketing commas

Punctuation emphasizes last, how the speaker is cross at the fact that he is last in her thoughts

Last- frustration of not being first in her list of priorities

'Looked up at her' -symbolises respect, as though he is frustrated at the fact that she is too powerful in their relationship, consumed

REverse in order of actions

" and ,stooping, made my cheek lie there" He is obeying her, he is passive whilst she is active and dominant

This is reversed once the speaker kills her " I propped her head up as before, / only,this time my shoulder bore "

her actions have a profound effect on the speaker, he is too passive

Attitude to women- The women begins to become dominant over the man

He sees himself as weak due to his dependency on her

Objectify her ' little'

Infantile tone and diminishes her importance

After he kills his lover the change is from ' she' to 'it' - objectify, distances the speaker from his loved one, becoming his possession

Ambiguity:

Dramatic monologue- speaker (one voice)

No other view point, hear the side of the story from a psychopathic speaker

Rhyme scheme

almost entirely masculine rhyme - final syllable

Male dominance over women, overpowering use of masculine rhyme

Poem about male dominance over women,

Precise and controlled rhyme scheme, tight control reflected through the speaker, Porphyria is controlled

Enjambment:

"Untied her hat and let the damp hair fall" - Lack of control, uncontrollable outbursts of a psychotic speaker

sprawls through the speaker

The whole poem is made of one long sprawling verse

the speaker does not stop to comprehend, overwhelmed- the speaker himself shows a lack of control

Iambic tetrameter;

The speaker employs an abnormal thought process

Each line is shorter, breathless, overwhelming

I listened with heart fit to break - breaks out of the iambic tetrameter, speaker loses control of emotions

Unable to control

Porphyria as a name does not fit in with the iambic tetrameter

as though the murderer cannot name his lover without losing control of the tight control he is attempting to maintain

Extra notes:

- BY killing her, the narrator makes Porphyria completely passive. She is also passive during her murder- perhaps the narrator chose not to report any struggle, as to him it was a perfect moment.

- ' And yet God has not said a word!'- The speaker either believes that he has had a lucky escape, or that he hasn't committed a sin.

He justifies his actions and builds an argument to himself. He reflects on his actions by interpreting her thoughts.

Page 4

Sonnet-29

Petrarchan sonnet

Did not use Shakespearean sonnet form

Relate more/ more appropriate for her love

Old form of love poetry- love is timeless

'out broad leaves' - slips out of iambic pentameter- suggets how powerful and intense her thoughts are

love is overwhelming- loses control, bot only herself but poetic form

breaks rule of sonnet- form of perfect love

refuses to follow form perfectly and it will not be until the two are together

unable to use the form correctly- intensity of feeling overpower

Sexual-

conceit - metaphor which appears throughout the entirety of a poem

Conceit is that of the poet's thoughts being greenery

the imagery of nature represents love (flourishing, alive)

spiritual and sexual love

Love is consuming

expression of powerful love

vine- wrap around a tree intertwines grows out of control, explores

intense and uncontrollable passion

'my thoughts do twine and bud about thee, as wild vines, about a tree' - twine is used as a verb, to interweave, interlocking

'wild' uncontrollable passion

Suffocated by her thoughts

sensual imagery

Spiritual -

'my thoughts do twine and bud about thee, as wild vines, about a tree'

Trees, branches, vine - biblical connotations, imagery

Spiritual correctness, strong like between the poem and the bible

religious references, 'thee' used by the poet almost 200 years later, used just like the Petrachan form, notion that their love is timeless

Use of word- reinforces notion that her love is sacred, expresses intimacy

Victorian Women-

How does it present women?

- 'conceit' - someways presents women as weak, vine is weak and needs stability to grow against something, man is the solid tree, not in a strong light, dependent on men

- Conceit- alternative interpretation , wooden trunk re imagines the sex act, reversal of roles. women engulfs the man, female empowerment

- sonnets were epitome of appropriate for women to write, loving and expressing sentience of love, dependence on a man

FORM-

This sonnet is loosely written in the Petrarchan form, with 8 lines (an octave) followed by six lines ( a sestet). The ocatve usually presents concerns and questioning , and the sestet provides a solution, however a solution is reached in the middle of line 7 - the fact that it is early and in the middle of a line, emphasizes her impatience to see her lover.

' Who art dearer, better!' - caesura creates a volta, as her thoughts deviate

Nature

'wild vines, about a tree' - (refer to conceit) emphasized by the internal rhyme of 'thee' and ' tree'

Her thoughts are constantly growing and unrestrained

'Tree' needs his strong physicality to be grounded

Her thoughts suffocate the reality, she has an altered perception

Excited language-

- '!'- the poet takes joy in thinking about her lover and a sensse of excitement at the prospect of being with him

- plosive sounds, 'burst' , and dynamic verbs emphasize how much she wants to be with her lover

structure- (ending)

teh transition from the problem to solution reflects the difference between thinking about her lover and by being with him. This is emphasized by the reversal of the first and last lines, ' I think of thee', ' i do not think of thee'. This repetition creates a cyclical ending and a need to draw him closer to him.

Page 5

Neutral Tones

Neutral - indifferent- no strong feature

Whilst this matches the thoughts of the woman, they differ for the speaker

Nature looks on uninterested as to what is happening

Nature is indifferent, unmoved and uninvolved

Hardy challenges the convention of romantic poetry which gloried nature as being highly significant

Setting changes as the speaker's memory of it changes

'grey'- neutral, lack of emotion

Nature is uninvolved

Winter has harsh and relentless conditions- metaphor for the final season of a relationship

sun is white- colourless, monochrome colour scheme description is visual, lack of colour in landscape like lack of emotion in relationship

The poet wants to forget the experience but cannot

The form of the poem is a historical form of poetry from past just as the speaker is unable to stop looking back and escape the past

The structure is cyclical

No sense of closure

The setting remains the same

Cyclical structure in rhyme scheme

Verses

The first line rhyms with the last in each stanza, signifying that there is no escape or sense of closure

Chidden- not commonly used word at the time - deliberate use - outdated, reflect how the speaker is equally stuck in the past

' The deadest thing alive' - oxymoron reflects how the relationship, contrasting words, contrast with lovers

The lack of colour represents the nature's indifference but the speaker is not neutral (angry, frustrated because stuck in inescapable, emotional turmoil

Repetition of 'and' - Reflects an angry outburst, unable to control his emotions, reflect frustration

negative poem about the destructive power of relationships

Page 6

Singh Song!

General message

-Conflict between Eastern and Western culture

- Dramatic monologue

-Could be his parallel life - what his life was supposed to be

- Represents lots of young Indian people ( connected to Indian family but brought up in England)

- By reading in between the lines it can be inferred that there is a battle between the romantic love and the expectations of parents/ culture/ work

- Conflict between love and other commitments

Poem Form

-The dramatic monologue form allows us to explore

-appropriate form- as the shoppers views are not important to the speaker all he cares is his love for his wife therefore his is the only voice heard in the poem

Work structure

'9- 9' repetitive monotonous nature of the speaker's job

dull and repetitive

Long traditional Indian work ethic, whereas the known phrase is 9 to 5 ( this breaks the known conventions and shows the divide between cultures)

Father

1st two lines about his relationship with his father

'daddy' -love and affection child to parent, satirical attack on the way the father addresses the speaker as though he's still a child

It is made apparent that the wife mocks the speaker's father.

This highlights the tension between the clash of the two cultures

The speaker justifies his wife's behaviour as he is so possessive and infatuated by her ( proud of her)

Example of clash (Wife)

tartan sari - culture clash

sari- traditional Indian clothing

tartan - associated with Scotland

this clash is symbolized by image

both cultures are loved by the speaker, balancng the two

UK culture

'at di beaches ov di UK in di Brightey moon'-

Positive, romantic atmosphere

constant conflict between love for england and love for Indian culture

'brightey' similar to blighty

The love between both cultures but the tension between the two

'blighty' used to describe Britain or England

Phonetic spelling

mirror the Indian accent

just by reading in the phonetic way there is a musicality in the language

the title -pun

the accent sounds like musical

Love for Indian culture is displayed through the phonetic sounds

Main relation ship explored - husband and wife

Balance

The start of the poem, it either focuses on one topic; work or language

alternating structure reflects the 2 things pulling at the speaker's attention

torn between his wife and work separate stanza shows that the 2 cannot be focuses on together at the same time

stanzas 5,6,7,

all begin with 'my bride'

the repetition reflects how the speaker become obsessed with his wife and avoids mentioning his work

the structure reflects the pull between teh two with prood of the relationship winning the battle as the poem progresses

Song qualities

Rhyme makes the poem sound like a song

refrain - chorus

fun quality with reflects the positive love

'hey singh, where yoo been?'

monotonous nature of running the shop

+Rhyme

Half rhyme and full rhyme

ground and mouse

vowel sound is the same sound

the consonant sound is half rhyme

the half rhyme relfects the moment (it is not full or complete which shows how their relationship is not complete when they r not together

the husband is downstairs but thinking about his wife upstairs

full rhyme

'cool' and 'stool'

the vowel is the same but so is the consonant

Describes the moemnt when the customers are gone

the husband and wife complete each other when together just like the rhyme is fully completed

Professional failure is also a cultural failure

Structure

- Does not follow a regular structure as they are not following a set culture

-The end is more serious ( rhyme (song-likeness) disappears) and sets a serious tone

-The structure is highly repetitive, creating a sense of closeness between the speakers.

Final verse

In this final stanza we see just how much the narrator values his bride.

This offers a nice contrast to the rest of the poem as the comedy is kept to a minimum in thee final part of the poem offering an insight into the multi-faceted world of love.

Page 7

The farmer's bride

Nature-

Metaphor for Britain's industrialization, in which nature has been shunned due to a greater use in mass machinery

Perhaps Mew is presenting women's greater link to nature compared to men who seek to trap or destroy nature

The animals seem to be at one with the bride but the farmer

animals describe bride

Perspective-

Written from the male point of view

Uses the voice to present her thoughts, Critics male dominance

The wife has no voice

Shows an imbalance in society, in his voice

shows fault through the farmer

Imbalance is also reflected through the varying lengths of the lines

Dominant male society that do not give her a name, possession of her husband

Nature

'three summers since i chose a maid'

season of summer, warm and vibrant

The seasons reflect the relationship

sudden change

'like the shut of a winter's day'

quick change like the weather

winter, negative and cold connotations

decaying relationship

As though he views his wife as a commodity, ' i chose'

His possession

suggests that marriage is male dominated,

free labourer rather than wife

she follows animals

animals do not follow a set structure, freedom of choice, act instinctively- runs away from husband, like an animal she acts based on 'flight or fight' rather than bowing down to society' Harsh, backward dialogue, seems for wise for being silent

does not want to conform

'they' - plural group, society notice her difference,

'we' - the villages believe this act is normal

Introspective woman- close affinity to animals, which is seen as negative

Fears men, ' not near, not near!" her eyes beseach'

Suggestions as to why she is afraid of men, non communicative

Other women adopt position as subservient wife, someone being different, not as society dictates, rather than a woman who dislikes her husband, symbol

Appears as complete madness, silence reflects women not having a voice in the society at the time, emphasizes the lack of voice

' out 'mong the sheep, her be'

he plays to societies dictation, pre-determined role

'wild'- unspoilt, either madness or refers to nature

but what to me?- possession, not benefited, abrupt,

analyses her physical language, no compliment towards her character

Dark, wintery imagery

Decaying in nature, foreshadows relationshio

Final stanza

- repetition, short sentences- anger, break down

alone, poor maid- alone suggests sympathy

frustrated

stair between, physically not large distance but metaphorically huge

Suggestion that (rapid punctuation) decaying, symbolically on different levels ' tis but a stair betweist us

she is above him, symbolically the farmer is just the voice but the woman has taken the upper hand. She has remained true to herself.

Attic- something he would like to keep but does not necessarily us her

'!'- highlights element of surprise

Walked up the stairs and has discovered that she has died, found a corpse

extreme emotion,

structure-

unusual indedntation represents imbalance ins oceity

ambiguous - ill treatment of 'insane' people,

Page 8

Letters from Yorkshire

Structure-

written in tercets

Enjambment- difficulty reaing

broken and fractured structure reflects the fact that the relationship is being broken and fractrued in some ways

Caesura-

me, his

separates pronouns, causes pause

distance reflects the distance and pause between the two in relationship

not just physical but relational distance

not flowing,

free verse-

lack of cohesion

lack of unity between the two

Internal rhyme

half- rhyne problematic nature of relationship

not full as relationship os not full or perfect

end stanza

light and night

full rhyme

optimism that the two are more unfied - there is a move to positivity

he to you- growing closeness

knuckles singing -personification

reflects the joy and positivity in the relationship

positive terms for man

her own actions are described in a much more negative way

appears to feel negative towards her own life

ending of the poem -

ambiguous

closeness between the two that was not evident at the beginning

'icy'- the speaker likes their relationship

Page 9

Before you were mine- Carol Ann Duffy

The Poet:

Born 1955

Scottish poet

Poet Laureate

Raised roman catholic

Born in Glasgow

REflecting on photographs of her mother's childhood

Thinking about the life her mother had before she was born

Context:

Religious expectations , 'mass' + historical expectations that being a woman after having a child would mean that going out days were over.

Sinister theme about the inevitability of the role of a woman

fate a woman is destined to have

Title- misleading, appears to be about a love poem from one lover to another

strong idea that the daughter is possessive over her mother

perhaps hypothetically talking to her mother

image reminds her of the famous marilyn monroe image

there is imagery associated with youthful promise- movie, dreamy

the images of youthful promise contrast the later images of domestic duty that take away the freedom

Form: dramatic monologue?

conventions

- poem where someone speaks to someone else but the person is silent

-fictional

direct address, rhetorical question

the speaker is telling something and the reader reads between the lines of what the speak is trying not to openly state

we learn about how domineering and controlling the daughter is

structure

tightly controlled

4 verses of 5 lines

repetitive nature of the structure mirrors the inevitability of future life

the inevitable repetitive structure of a woman's role in society

to have all hopes and dreams and aspiration dashed by what is forced over them

or

the structure reflects the tight control that the daughter has over the mother

the poem begins on a pavement,

and ends on a different pavement

the poem is cyclical which is reinforced by the title of the poem

the title is the last 4 words of the poem, so the title and last words tie together to present a cyclical nature

the cyclical nature of existence- a theme of fate, impossible to escape what is predetermined

critique of the fated role of women

caesura:

the poem flows nicely as a whole but the caesura , 'before i was born' ultimately the speaker says that she is to blame and is at fault for her mother's loss of freedom.

language

'whose small bites on ur neck weetheart?'

role reversal

rhetorical q. - in many ways the child takes on the role of the parent.

'relics'

-could be that they are so alien that they are like a museum piece, metaphorical fossil

-something valuable, values her mother

-'clear as scent'

only simile

synaesthesia- deliberate blending of senses

blends sight with smell

strong memories relate to senses

idea that memories are related to sensery imagery

remembers strongly

Page 10

winter swans-owen sheers

reflects the tough times of the relationship

optimistic ending

structure

mostly written in verses of 3 lines- tercets

3 line stanzas about a couple- unbalanced within relationship

uneven line lengths- feeling of disjointment, broken nature of relationship, distance between couple

the final stanza is a couplet- optimistic

different to the rest of the poem

all the negative content of the poem is written in tercets

a couplet- represents the lovers

imagery

natural imagery

teh negative aspects of the relationship are presented through pathetic fallacy

" the clouds had given their all-2 days of rain"

the weather reflects their

personification -the clouds have purposely attacked the couple (down trodden)

winter is harsh cold and unforgiving- state of relationship

'waterlogged earth gulping for breath'- the relationship is overwhelmingly filled to bursting point, filled with hatred

swans signify the start of positivity

'white'-purity and positivity

'porcelain'- valued and treasured

iceberg- firm foundations of the couple,

shift from negative to positive natural imagery

enjambment-

two days of rain and then a break

in which we walked

the actual break reflects the break in the weather

the forced beak in the poem also reflects the breaking point in the relationship

'a show of tipping in unison'- looking at the natural world and considering about what is possibel in the human relationship

'they halved themselves in the dark water'- halving, rich image that suggests they must halve themselves and give themselves to each otherr. only together is there unity

the woman is the only speech- the first dialogue reflects how she is reaching out to make the relationship work and metaphorically begins the stillign of the water

swans have a commitment and are united which has a positive influence on the couple

'swum the distance between us' - influence of the birds has been positive as they mirror the actions of the swans

the poets use of rhyme reflect the 2 distinct stages of the relationship

1/2 rhyme- half but not full, deliberate use of partial rhyme, the relationship is problematic, not full rhyme as the relationships is not full or perfect

'

'sands', 'hands' - still not full but an improvement, rhymes more showing progress in the relationship

fuller just like the relationship

the use of rhyme moving towards a fuller rhyme, shows how the relationship is improving

ends on a full stop -storm has ended and relationship is on the mend

Page 11

follower-Seamus Heaney

-born in 1939

-generational farming family

-early poetry- childhood experience, identity and rural life

context: ploughing

-digs up the soil in straight lines for crops

THeme

-changing nature of a parental relationship

structure

-ordered

-tightly ordered structure reflects the tightly ordered nature of ploughing

-tight structure- skill of the father, the poet admires and respects his dad for this

-the tight neat structure is challenged

-the verse about the boy is not so neat (irregularity and half rhyme)

changing nature of the parental relationship is reflected on the changing verse matters

stanza 4,5,6, start with 'I' as there is a shift in the focus from the father to the boy

change in nature of relationship

Rhyme:

father: full rhyme, 'round', 'ground'

boy: half rhyme, 'wake', 'back'

the half rhyme always describes the boy and reflects how he is unable to match the perfection of the boy (clumsiness)

Form:

6 stanzas- each 4 lines

-almost completely in iambic tetrameter (line of 8 syllables with alternate unstressed unstressed)

- quickens the pace, breathless tone

mirrors literal act of ploughing which occurs throughout poem

PUNCTUATION

Enjambment

'with a single pluck of reins

just as the father has got to the end of the line with ploughing, the poetry mirrors this

the turn between the lines is both literal and methaphorical

the structure device reflects the skill

'an expert.' stop and reflect on what has been said, a sense of finality, no debate on the matter (admiration) caesura

END

title -follower

young Seamus follows his father on a metaphorical level as he idolises his fatehr and follows in his footsteps

towards end of poem- title is repeated yet the meaning has changed over the course of poem

the final line- the father who follows his child

the change in relationship

Language

sailing images: "wake and sail"

literal

the skilled ploughing is visibly similar to the smooth motion of the waves

metaphorical;

highly skilled role of the father (managing a plough is similar to managing a ship)

he is everything to the boy, he is the ship and the captain sailing through the soil

majestic images stand in stark contrast to the boy

Page 12

Mother, Any Distance (Simon Armitage)

-born in 1963

- Poetry is accessible and and contemporary, but full of rich language and imagery

message: Literal - the speaker is talking to his mum as he is moving house

Metaphorical- growing independence , covering the changing nature of parent-child relationships

*captures the disjointed and unstable moment in the child parent relationship of moving out and finding an identity

Form: sonnet (loosely)

There are normally fifteen lines but here there are fourteen( short last line)

the final line is short and is deliberately placed as an extra thought to emphasize

- the octave presents the problem (mother is needed, but is holding them back

-the sestet presents the solution

the nature of their relationship is still changing.

Structure:

no fixed rhyme scheme, varying line lengths (everything varies and is uncontrollable, unpredictable

new stage, no formulaic pattern

the final line breaks the sonnet form

forced an unnatural rhyme

emphasizes that the child may or may not succeed in this independent life.

the speaker is aware that they need to 'flee' the nest

PUNCTUATION

enjambment-

'us. anchor. kite'- deliberately emphasized through the use of the fullstop

language/ structure analysis- an anchor holds something in place and secure/ safe. although a kite has the freedom of moving in the air it is still secured to the ground.

brings stability but hold you in one place-being held back

LANGUAGE

'acre'- deliberate emphasis, hyperbole

childish frames of reference

'spam'- childish imagery (reminder of childhood)

could be worrying evidence that the narrator is not mature enough

reminds the mother of the past that they two shared together

as the speaker moves further away the physical difference symbolises the growing relational distance growing

the mum holds one end, the tape is presented as an umbilical cord, essential connection to life

metaphor at the zero end- the moemnt of the womb for the baby, the zero end of life

'spacewalk'- space exploration (connected to life giving chord, connects to life to access base.

exploring unchartered territory, excited but there is also a risk

independence and the future

bird imagery , 'hatch'

literal level: the door into the loft

lexical field of birds- instigates the imagery of the bird flying the nest

for various time the bird spends a lot of the time in the nest

there comes a point that the chick has to jump out and fall to the floor.

it has one second to understand what to do and fly

his is a risk, there is only one shot

the speaker acknowledges the seriousness of the situation

shown by the blunt final line

Page 13

climbing my grandfather

extended metaphor- mountains have positive and negative attributes

steady, reliable and admirable- all positive attributes

respect and awe that speaker has

ends with positive image- reinforces fact that it is a positive poem

STRUCTURE

-one long stanza/ single verse of 27 lines

=supports idea of imposing mountain, as well as continuous nature of speaker's 'climb'

unbroken reflects solidity and stability (maintained connection between speaker and gfather

reinforces the fact that grandfather is like a mountain

little pausing throughout poem - continuous action of climb (perhaps a pause would indicate a loss of connection)

-extended metaphor

FORM

narrative verse

written in present tense, yet focuses on past and a recollection of past memories

suggests importance of memories.

LANGUAGE

lexical field of climbing shows adult intelligent speaker- sophistication of vocab specialist field

speaker now as an adult

speaker discovers truth

Double meaning is used throughout, balancing literal meaning of a young child describing each aspect of gfather, and also metaphorical depth

" I decide to do it free"- carries double meaning : speaker is free climbing and also describes becoming an adult.

=this decision embolden poet and also emphasize complexity of the climbing task

"I rest for a while"- does not want to look down (aware of dangers of climbing) + gfather is also setting a high standard by which to compare himself

=gson wants to mirror family success

"pupil"- refers to literal eye + likening himself to a student with much to learn.

=gson aspires to be like gfather and emulate the admirable figure

Begins with "trying" ends with "knowing" definitive lang

much more infomed

PUNCTUATION

Caesura, break and causes reader to reflect

"altitude, reaching for the summit"- breathlessness of climb

(going the extra mile)

Pauses in between words- urges reader to consider their own memories, yet indicating that it is too late for the speaker

Enjambment

reflects change in direction (speaker)

"the nails"- emphasized, refers to breathless climb and literal analysis of gfather's nails

END

final line is simple: "slow pulse of his good heart"

monosyllabic

slows down pace- reflects slow heartbeat of grandfather

strenuous activity is finished

poem acts as discovery, further uncovers and acknowledges after his gfather's death

Waterhouse journeys through the poem to understand his gfather better, yet there is a sense sadness that he appears to recognise his "good heart" too late

motion of climbing, higher up a mountain the better understanding of landscape, which mirrors how the more he climbs the greater his knowledge is of his gfather.

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walking away

Parent/ child-Follower/ Climbing my gfather

sacrficial nature of parental love- before you were mine

son changing- mother, any distance

THEMES:

protectivenes

loss

reflection

FORM:

first person narration -personal experiences

quintets-ordered and controlld

reflects control father has over son

STRUCTURE:

rhyme scheme is consistent and tightly controlled- fathers wish to tightly control life of son

first 2 stanzas-memory

final 2 -memory that still pains him

final 2 lines- conclusion

PUNCTUATION:

Enjambment-

"away behind" - continues to a whole new stanza

signifies shift in relationship (emphasizes great transition in relationship)

caesura- creates pause in line "Behind a scatter of boys. I can see"

separation between speaker as 'I' and the son's friends, who have taken priority in life

narrator is physically in the background, shows how also mentally not the son's main focus

strutural features which challenge control that father has

reflect that father is losing control

inner conflict of father

Ending

- speaker has learnt to accept lack of control

message of poem is importance of letting go- reinforced by repetition of title

LANGUAGE

use of enjambment between "satellite wrenched" signifies separation

'like a satellite ' :

in a poem full of natural imagery

the use of a man-made object shows how the speaker feels that it is a force man-made break , unnatural break

metaphors and imagery

conflicting emotions of not wanting to let go but knowing its the right thing

' a sunny day with the leaves just turning'

literal description of autumn

turns to imagery of natre

( as well as physical transition in seasons) represents transition in sons life

reflects loss and pain felt by speaker

natural image- ordained by life itself

'touch lines new ruled'

reflects how new boundaries and regulations are put in place in father/ son relationship

'half-fledged'

father does not feel that son is ready

natural imagery accepts that it is the natural thing to do

stanza 3 - begins to accept and adapt

image of 'like a winged seed loosened'

natural imagery

softer verb loosened

coming to terms

destiend to fly away

whereas satellite is not supoosed to leave orbit

shift to acceptance

ENDING

final stanza

"God alone"

religious imagery of sacrifice

shows it is hard but correct

sacred, morally right thing to do

- speaker has learnt to accept lack of control

message of poem is importance of letting go- reinforced by repetition of title

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eden rock

parent/child Imgines his parents both young again

idyllic, peaceful scene

narrator on opposite side of stream

parents beckoning him to join him in afterlife

speaker has secure and loving relationhsip with parents

structure:

same amount of syllables

steady and peaceful- reflects how speaker feels towards parents

Form:

regular structure reflects steady nature of speaker's relationship with parents

-separated final line- empahasizes the narrator's current separation

stable

quatrains

5 stanzas

Structure

use of rhyme

1/2 rhyme- rock and jack , straight and out

suggetss that something is lacking

incomplete

speaker is not with parents (physical- stream, metaphroical- death)

instabliltiy in half rhyme

final 4 lines - parents beckon speaker

perfect structure is broken

gap is life itself (afterlife)

disjointed structure symbolises how relationship is not perfect, not togetehr

Imagery

Visual and nostalgic

'Eden Rock'- fictional setting

biblical reference

symbol of perfection of parent/child rleationship

presents surreal vision of them

angelic description of mother: "her hair, the colour of wheat, takes on the light"

hair yellow but light is like halo

colour imagery "white cloth"

white is purity and goodness

specific references towards " H.P sauce bottles" and "Thermos" exemplify how the memories are so specific

speaker vividly remembers

Nature

plethora of natural imagery reflects love between parents and son

PUNCTUATION:

- "over the drifted stream." caesura emphasizes separation between speaker and parents

-"leisurely,"- caesura displays slow pace, tranquil setting

Ending

physical and metaphorical separation

final line- ambiguity

monosyllabic - 'I had not thought that it would be like this'

deliberate use of childish language (tone of childlike simplicity)

poet desires to be young and with parents again

poet isolated

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