When we two_parted_plastic_notesheet
- 1. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –WhenWe Two PartedP.6 Poetic devices and their effects – form (ballad,sonnet,free verse, dramatic monologue), alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia, Alternate rhymes –coldand foretold There isan ominousandforebodingfeel –sense of impending gloomfortheirrelationship –alsothe general alternate rhyme structure couldshowhowtheyare nowseparate andwill never be together Dramatic monologue We see hisverypersonal take on theirrelationshipandhis growingangerand grief Alliterationof cheek andcold,colder The repetitionof the consonantcis cuttingand harshsuggesting theiremotional distance Language and its effects – what sortof words are in the poem? Violent, loving, colloquial,archaic, semantic fields,diction,religious, romantic language Verb- sunk Sense of depression and this is juxtaposed to the notion of morning – should be a time of renewal and energy – instead itis a time of low emotion Adjective - broken Thissuggestsa severe break,whichcanneverbe fixedor reunited.Italsosuggestsabetrayal of sorts. Verb- Shudder The physical painthat comesfromhisemotional torment –she still hasthe powerto hurt him – he isalsoportrayedas weak here. Alternative interpretations – Can quotations be read in two ways for different meanings? ‘Thyvowswere all broken’ A marriage vow has beenbroken bythe affair but alsomaybe a promise betweenthe lovers has beenbroken. Perhaps a ‘vow’ of silence to keeptheir affair secret. ‘the dewof the morning’ Couldsymbolisethe man’stearsorit couldsymbolise acold sweatof the fearof suffering
- 2. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –WhenWe Two PartedP.6 Structure and its effects – tonal shifts,pace, caesura,what rhyme stresses,beginning, middle, end, repetition,dialogue and where it happens,enjambment Contrastof ‘insecretwe met,insilence Igrieve’ Showsthe hushed,hurriedclandestine affairincontrastto his pitiful presentnowalone withouther– he cannot share what happened. Caesuraof ‘long,long’ Introducesa pause tostresshowinfinite hispainfeelsandthe time he will spendwallowinginregret. Repetitionof silenceandtears At the start, bothwere sadand disconsolate –butnow afterall these years,if the speakerwere tomeetagain,itwouldbe he alone still grievinginthe same way – it suggestshe cannotget overher. Tone and its effects – talking aboutmoods which are evoked and where,narrative voice Deathly tone evokedthroughwordslike‘sever’,‘pale, ‘cold,‘chill’,‘knell’ Suggeststhere isnolife nowforthe man – a sense of emotional distance anda man trappedand constantlyhauntedbygloom ‘thyheart couldforget’ Tone of isolationandbetrayal fromthe manthat hislovercould move on. ‘Whywert thouso dear?’ Tone of angerand disbelief athimself thathe couldhave ever love her. Imagery and its effects - metaphor,simile,personification, visual sense ‘A knell inmine ear’ Soundimagery/metaphorwhichimpliesabell beingrung – the bell couldrepresentasense of loudnessandinescapabilityfrom hermemory. ‘half broken-hearted–imagery Sense of beingdestroyedandthathe can neveragainbe whole ‘colderthykiss Sense imagerywhichshowsshe hasmovedonfromhim – uncaringand harsh Context – authorial,social and historical Lord Byron (1788-1824) was an English poetand one of the mostfamous members ofthe Romantic movement. This poem is said to be abouthis love affair with Lady Frances Webster.Not only was she a married woman,butshe was also the wife of one of his friends.Later,after their affair ended, Byron learned ofLady Frances’ new affair with the Duke of Wellington. Veiledreferencestovows –had to keephername secretandonly allude towhathappened.Deliberatelyvague andcouldrelate to mostrelationships.She couldactuallyreaditandknowwithout everbeingpublicly accused. Wayof attackingher?