Love and Relationships

"When we two parted"

He addresses his former lover directly, which makes the poem more personal.This contrasts with the use of "They" in stanza 3- this hints at a bond between the narrator and his lover which keeps them separate from others.

" In silence and tears"

This could mean that they had nothing to say to each other anymore, but it also hints that their relationship was secret.

“Half broken-hearted”

This could imply that they weren’t properly in love. However, it is clear that the narrator has been clearly affected by their parting, so perhaps he’s accusing his lover of only being half in love with him. He could also be referring to himself as "Half" of the couple, meaning that he's broken-hearted and his former lover isn't.

Alliteration implies that they were never in love

"To sever for years"

This violent imagery suggests that the parting was painful and traumatic for the narrator.

"Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss"

The narrator describes his lover like a corpse. This suggests that her feelings for him have died. Repetition of harsh 'k' sound emphasises coldness.

"Truly that hour foretold

Sorrow to this"

Enjambment emphasises the link between past and present- this shows his sorrow is ongoing.

“I hear thy name spoken, and share within its shame”

He hears people talking about the affairs his former lover is having- this is painful for him. He feels involved in her "shame" because he also had an affair with her.

The alliteration of the 'sh' sound, links to silence.

"They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear"

The metaphor suggests that her name sounds like a death knell to him- it reminds him of the death of their relationship.

"Why wert thou so dear?"

Rhetorical question emphasises how deeply he felt for her- he can't bear to hear that she's having affairs with other men.

"Thee...Thou"

The narrator repeatedly addresses his former lover directly, creating the impression that he's still preoccupied with her- this shows how her actions continue to upset him.

" Long long shall I rue thee, too deeply to tell"

The repetition emphasises how long he'll feel regret.

"rue" he doesn't just feel sadness- he also regrets their relationship.

He's silent because he's incapable of expressing his pain- not just because of the need for secrecy.

" In silence, I grieve"

Because no-one knew they were lovers, he can't talk about his pain. He mourns their relationship like a death.

"That thy could forget, Thy spirit deceive"

Accusatory language suggests that he is angry with her.

"With silence and tears"

Repetition from stanza 1 emphasises secrecy and sorrow- he's still hurting and is unable to move on.

Feelings and Attitudes: 

• GRIEF-  The narrator mourns the end of the relationship as though it's a death.
• ANGER- The narrator seems angry that his lover has broken promises and is having affairs with other men. He imagines her with silence and tears, suggesting he want her to see how much she's hurt him.
• REGRET- He regrets their relationship because of the way things turned out - he suffered a lot.

CONTEXT:

Byron was known to have the reputation of having scandalous affrays. Although he concealed the identity of the women, it was rumored he may have written about Lady Webster.

"The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean"

The narrator uses personification to draw parallels between what happens in nature and his own desire to be with his lover. 

Imagery of flowing water shows that everything is connected to everything else.

Increasing scale of imagery- showing water joining into larger and larger bodies hints that loving someone makes you feel part of something bigger than yourself.

"With a sweet emotion"

Personification suggests that nature enjoys and benefits from this union.

"river" and "ever" are half rhymes as are "heaven" and "forgiven" in the second stanza - this reflects how the couple aren't united.

Shelley's use of rhyme is a mix of masculine and feminine. For example, "river" and "ocean" and "ever" and "emotion". This mingles together just as he wants himself, as the masculine, and his lover, as the feminine, to mingle together.

Overly long sentences= Gives the idea of breathlessness and desperation, which reflects the narrator's feelings.

"Nothing in the world is single, All things by law divine" 

The first line sums up the argument. The narrator thinks it's God's Law that everything in nature mingles together.

"Why not I with thine?"

In both stanzas, the first 6 or 7 lines are confident assertions,  which contrast with the rhetorical questions in the final lines. 

"And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea"

Repetition highlights just how many examples he can show her of unity in nature. Emphasises that everything is connected even the sun and the moon- not just nature on earth.

The mirrored repetition of "kiss" and "clasps" reflects the narrator's belief that humans should mirror nature.

"What is this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me?"

The narrator questions the point of the world if his lover doesn't love him - this suggests that love gives life a meaning. This question can also be a hyperbole - he might be deliberately going over the top to try to persuade her.

The final line is monosyllabic and only has five syllables- this increases the impact of the question and makes it stand out more. They're separated from the rest of the poem just like the narrator and his lover.

Feelings and attitudes:

• Longing- The narrator longs for love. He's frustrated that his love isn't returned when he sees all bonds that exist in nature. 
• Playfulness- The poem can also be read in a playful way- the narrator oversimplifies the idea that because things in nature come together, he and the women he wants should come together.

Context:

He wrote the poem in the 1820s, throughout the poem Bysshe-Shelley puts emphasis on emotion on nature.

Structure:

Regular ABAB rhyme scheme, however the last line is different this implies that the love in the relationship isn’t the same.

The poem is a monologue of a male towards a female recipient, asking for love

The final lines of both stanzas are interrogatives - questions being posed by the narrator

"The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elms-tops down for spite"

Pathetic fallacy creates a threatening, ominous atmosphere.

"I listened with heart fit to break"

This shows how the narrator is emotionally at breaking point and hints at his mental instability.

"When glided in Porphyria"

This description makes Porphyria seem almost magical.

"She shut the cold out and the storm...Blaze up, and make the cottage warm"

Porphyria seems to be a powerful, positive force in the speaker's life. Her actions contrast with the miserable weather.

"And laid her soiled gloves by, untied

Her hat and let the damp hair fall"

Enjambment creates unusual line breaks that reflect the speaker's unstable mental state.

Female sexuality was repressed in Victorian times, but Porphyria is openly flaunting hers. Women who behaved like this were often labeled 'fallen women' - the use of the word "fall" draws attention to how Porphyria's behaviour would have been seen as sinful.

"And, last, she sat down by my side And called me. When no voice replied she put my arm about her waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare"

Repetition of "And" emphasises the calm way he's chronologically recounting the events leading up to her murder.

His passivity is strange - he doesn't speak and lets Porphyria arrange his body.

"Murmuring how she loved me"

"Murmuring" could suggest her tone is flirtatious, or that she doesn't really mean what she says.

"From pride, and vainer ties dissever"

The narrator is critical of Porphyria's lack of commitment to him. She may be from a higher social class than him - this situation could be difficult for her as her family might not approve of the relationship.

"I looked up at her eyes"

First time in the poem that the speaker takes action - signals a shift in the balance of passivity and activity between Porphyria and the speaker.

"Porphyria worshiped me"

He wants to be loved by her and to have power over her.

"That moment she was mine, mine"

She's come to be with him tonight and he's convinced she loves him, so he wants to preserve the moment.

The repetition of "mine" is disturbing and suspicious - it emphasises how he wants to possess her.

"and all her hair In one long yellow string I would Three times her little throat around, And strangled her."

This description of the murder is shocking because it's unexpected and matter-of-fact - there's no change in rhythm.

Caesura emphasises the sudden and final nature of this action.

"I am quite sure she felt no pain"

This is clearly not true - the reader now has reason to question everything he has been saying.

"Laughed the blue eyes without a stain"

Seems unlikely that er eyes are laughing, so maybe her eyes weren't "Happy and proud" in line 32 either.

Ambiguity- this could mean there's no evidence of his sin, that he thinks she doesn't blame him for murdering her, or that there's no stain on her honour because she didn't have sex with him.

"Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss"

He believes he red face ( as a result of being strangled) is actually a blush from his passionate kiss - this shows that he's deranged.

Juxtaposition shows the narrator's love for Porphyria is passionate but also destructive.

"Only, this time my shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still"

 Reversal of earlier in the poem - he's now active and Porphyria is passive.

Flower imagery, "droops", reflects her beauty, but also depicts the speaker's foolishness - flowers droop, just as this perfect moment will not last.

"So glad it has its utmost will"

He describes her as "it" - she's just an object to him now.

"And thus we sit together now"

This is disturbing - the reader realises that she's been dead for the whole poem.

Structure:

Events in the poem mirror each other.

In the first half of the poem, Porphyria is active and dominant while her lover is passive, which is shown by the way she rests his head on her shoulder.

These positions are reversed when the speaker kills her - afterwards he places her head on his shoulder.

Form:

Dramatic Monologue

Asymmetrical rhyme scheme (ABABB) and enjambment suggest that the speaker is unstable.However, the regular rhythm of the poem reflects his calmness. 

Porphyria has no voice in the poem - the speaker projects his own thoughts and feelings onto her life and death. 

"I think of thee!"

The narrator addresses her lover directly, which makes the poem seem more personal.

Exclamation mark emphasises the pleasure she takes in thinking about him.

"my thoughts do twine and bud About thee, as vines about a tree"

Natural imagery shows how her thoughts focus on him like a vine wraps around a tree - her thoughts are constantly growing and developing.

Metaphor - the narrator is the "wild vines" and her lover is the "tree". this is emphasied by the in internal rhyme of "thee" and "tree".

"soon there's nought to see Except the straggling green which hides the wood"

Her thoughts threaten to stop her from seeing him as he really is.

"Straggling" suggests that vines are inferior to the tree - her thoughts about her lover are inferior to the man himself.

"Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should"

Caesura creates a turning point (volta) in the poem.

The imperative is used to emphasise how much she wants him to act.

Sibilant sounds reflect the rustling of the tree's leaves.

"Drop heavily down,- burst, shattered, everywhere!"

The weight of her thoughts emphasises how much she thinks about him.

Use of three different words to describe the way his presence replaces her thoughts emphasises her excitement. Caesura contributes to the dramatic effect.

"Because in this deep joy to see and hear thee"

Plosive sounds to mark the conclusion of her argument- she wants him to understand how much she enjoys being with him.

"I don't think of thee- I am too near thee."

Reversal of the first line highlights the difference between thinking about him and being with him.

She doesn't have to think about him when she's with him- he's better than anything she's capable of imagining.

"thee"- Rhymes him with himself - this shows her obsession with him.

Feelings and attitudes:

• Longing- The narrator longs to be with her lover instead of just thinking about him.
• Intensity- She thinks about her lover all the time when they're apart. Her language is forceful- she uses imperatives which almost order him to be with her.
• Celebration- She takes pleasure in her feelings of love for him - she enjoys the way her thoughts envelop him, but she takes even greater joy in the thought of him being a physical presance in her life.

Structure:

Transition from problem to solution reflects the difference between the narrator thinking about her lover and being with him.

This is emphasised by the reversal of each of the first and last lines- in the first line, the narrator says "I think of thee!", but by the end of the poem, she imagines that when she's with her lover, she'll no longer think of him because she'll be "too near" him.

Form:

Sonnet loosely written in the Petrarchan form, with eight lines ( an octave) followed by six lines (sestet)- the octave usually presents a problem and the sestet provides a solution.

However, in this poem, the solution arrives in the middle of line 7 - having it come early and in the middle of a line reflects the narrator's impatience to see her lover.

"We stood by a pond that winter day"

Lack of physical movement contributes to lifeless atmosphere.

Weather reflects their feelings - they're emotionally cold towards each other.

"And the sun was white, as though chidden of God"

The sun is drained of warmth and colour- reflects how the love has drained from their relationship.

Imagines that God has scolded the sun. This adds to the bleak mood of the poem, and hints that the narrator sees everything in a negative way.

"And a few leaves lay on the starving sod"

Alliteration emphasises how the leaves are still and unmoving.

Silbilance and personification emphaisises this impresson of suffering - the lifeless ground reflects their dying relationsip.

"Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove 

Over tedious riddles of years ago" 

In love poems, eyes are traditionally shown to be a positive feature, but their shown negatively here.

Enjambment mimics how her eyes move over his face. The words "rove" and "Over" look and sound similar, which reflects the boredom she feels.

"words played between us...On which lost the more by our love"

Game imagery- love should be fun and playful, but theirs became "tedious" and they "lost".

"The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing"

Oxymoron- a smile shouldn't be dead. This emphasises her complete lack of feeling towards him.

"a grin of bitterness swept-Like an ominous bird a-wing..."

Imagery of a bird flying away suggests the end of the relationship.

Ellipsis represents the time when the relationship came to an end, in the time that passes between stanza 3 and 4.

"Since then, keen lessons that love deceives. And wrings with wrong"

"keen" means sharp or strong- these lessons have been painful..

He makes a pessimistic generalisation that all love is deceptive.

Alliteration emphasies his pain and anguish.

"the God-crust sun"

The "t" in "crust" is a harsher sound that "chidden" in the first stanza - this hints that the narrator has become more bitter over time. 

"And a pond edged with greyish leaves"

Poem begins and ends by the pond - this shows how the memory of that day still affects him.

The leaves are grey because they're rotting - this reflects how their love has decayed. The repetition of this colour from the first stanza emphasises the decay.

Feelings and Attitudes:

• Bitterness- The narrator feels bitter about the breakdown of his relationship- he resens the lack of real emotion behind his lover's smile and the way she seemed bored of him.
• Pessimism- Other negative experiences of love since the relationship described in the poem have only confirmed his pessimistic view of love. The bleak mood and colourless setting show that there's a lackof hope everwhere, even in nature.

Structure:

First three stanzas centre around a specific memory, then there's a time jump to the final stanza where the narrator reflects on love in general.

The poem ends where it began, with the image of a pond- this cyclical structure represents how he has been repeatedly hurt by love since the day by the pond, and the way that these experiences remind him of that day.

Form:

Point of view of a man addressing him past lover.

First and last lines in each stanza rhyme- this reflects how the memory of a past experience returns to affect the narrator in the present.

Indented final lines in each stanza slows the pace of the poem by creating a pause- this hints at his sadness that the relationship failed. 

"Three Summers since I chose a maid"                                               

Shows system of patriarchy (male authority over women) - suggests she didn't have much choice about their marriage. This is reflected in the title- it sounds like she belongs to him.

"When us was wed she turned afraid"

She wasn't afraid until after they were married- this could hint that he's responsible for her fear in some way.

"she turned afraid...Of love and me and all things human; Like the shut of a winter's day"

Anticipates the comparison to animals that follow. It's a strong statement, but the source of this fear is a mystery.

Simile shows how sudden this change was- winter days go dark very quickly.

"One night, in the Fall, she runned away"

Dialect of the farmer- we can hear his voice, and it's one he shares with his community.

"We chased her, flying like a hare...shiver and a scare"

Hunting Imagery- Suggests her terror 

Her fear is expressed physically, like a hunted animal- "scare" is rhymed with "hare", which emphasises the comparison.

"We caught her, fetched her home at last And turned the key upon her, fast"

"We" the whole village seems to be involved- this adds to the sense that she's being hunted. "last" and "fast" a rhyming couplet emphasises the decisive action of locking her away and makes it sound sinister.

"She does the work about the house As well as most, but like a mouse"

The change to the present tense emphasises his resigned, baffled tone. She's a fairly good housewife- she does what is expected of her in the relationship, apart from loving husband.

"mouse"- She's linked with small prey animals to show her vulnerability.

"beasts in stall Look round like childern at her call. I've hardly heard her speak at all."

Simile shows that the farm animals trust her and look to her for care - may suggest he's jealous of them.

Rhyming triplet emphasises the narrator's frustration at his wife's behaviour.

"Shy as a leveret, swift as he"

Repeated use of sibilant sounds emphasises her link with nature. The irregularity of this short stanza could reflect the farmer's growing agitation by this like and his unfulfilled desire for her.

"leveret"- Links back to the imagery of the hunt- she still feels under threat.

"One leaf in the still air falls slowly down"

Sad and lonely image- symbolises his sinking hope that she will come to him freely.

"What's Christmas-time without there be Some other in the house than we!"

Christmas is about the birth of a child- they have no children because of her refusal to him.

"She sleeps up in the attic there Alone, poor maid.'Tis but a stair Betwixt us."

Sounds sympathetic but also suggests that she's still a virgin- a "maid" is a young, unmarried women.

He is aware of her physical closeness, adding to his frustration.

"The soft young down of her; the brown, The brown of her- her eyes, her hair, her hair!"

Animal-like descriptions show his desire for her- even though these qualities are also the source of his frustration.

Internal rhyme of "brown" and "down" emphasises his desire and frustration.

Feelings and attitudes:

• Frustration- He wants to have a sexual relationship with her and have children, but she's unwilling and uncommunicative.
• Desire- The farmer is clearly attracted to his wife. This is expressed both in the imagery he uses to describe her and the way he breaks down at the end of the poem.
• Fear- The farmer's wife is clearly afraid. There is also a sense of foreboding- the farmer is struggling to control his desire for her, and there is little to suggest that there will be a happy ending.

CONTEXT: 

Mew is thought have been homosexual, at a time when homosexuality wasn't accepted by society. This might explain the tone of longing and frustration.

Structure:

Farmer tells the story of a failing marriage in the first two stanzas.

Then he goes on to dicuss how his wife is now, how he feels towards her, his sadness and his desire.

Form:

Dramatic Monologue

Mostly in iambic tetrameter, with a rhyme scheme that varies through the poem. This helps give the poem a strong rhythm that drives the narrative forward without becoming predictable.

Entirely in the Farmer's point of view- His wife has no vioce.

"It is eighteen years go, almost to the day A sunny day with leaves just turning"

He remembers the exact day - it's an important memory.

The transition from summer to autumn reflects the transition in the son's life.

"Your first game of football, then, like a satellite

Wrenched from its orbit, go drifting away"

Negative Simile- a satellite isn't meant to fall out of its orbit, and to drift away makes the son sound helpless and in danger. The simile also emphasises how the father has stopped being at the centre of his son's life.

Enjambment puts the unexpected word "Wrenched" at the start of the line, which emphasises it. This reflects how the father found the separation sudden and painful. 

"a half-flegded thing set free Into a wilderness"

Bird metaphor used to show the father's concern that his son isn't ready.

"wilderness" Suggests a hostile place- father worries his son won't survive without his protection.

"Who finds no path where the path should be"

Repetition of "path" emphasises that the father is desperate for his son to find the right way in life and that he sees him as helpless.

"hesitant figure, eddying away Like a winged seed looened from its parent stem"

Natural simile contrasts with the satellite simile in stanza 1- "loosened" is less painful than "Wrenched". This shows how the father is coming to terms with what happened and unerstands that it's natural. 

"nature's give-and-take - the small, the scorching Ordeals which fire one's irresolute clay"

"scorching" Experiences of growing up are painful.

Fire turns clay into a pot- difficult experiences of growing up turn childern into independant people.

"I have had worse partings, but none that so Gnaws at my mind still."

"Gnaws" is animalistic and vicious- the father is still affected by seeing his son go through the tough process of growing up.

"Saying what God alone could perfectly show- How selfhood begins with a walking away And love is proved in the letting go."

Religious imagery- in the Bible , God let go of Jesus, his only son, when Jesus came to Earth and was crucified. He did this to show humans that he loved them. That "God alone" could do it shows how difficult it is.

The change to a more steady rhythm underlines how the father has come to a philosophical understanding- the son has to walk away from his father to find his own identity, and the father proves his love for his son by letting him go.

Feelings and attitudes:

• Protectiveness- The father sees his son as vulnerable, but understands that he can't protect him forever- he now has to show his love for his son by letting him gain some independence.
• Loss- There's a feeling of loss and sadness throughout the poem, but also the understanding that "walking away" is a natural part of growing up. It's not a permanent parting, their relationship is just being redefined.
• Reflection- The father is philosophical about the relationship between parents and their children - although his son leaving his protection was painful, he understands that it was necessary for both of them.

CONTEXT:

'Walking Away' was published in 1962 and was dedicated to Day Lewis's first son, Sean.

Structure:

First two stanzas that narrator talks about the memory.

In the final two, he reflects on how the memory still pains him.

Final two lines of the poem form a sort of conclusion- he understands that whilst it was a painful event, it was a necessary part of his son's development.

Form:

First person narrator= Personal experiences

Enjambment and Caesura contribute to the rhythm of the poem, which sounds like natural speech.

Regular ABACA rhyme scheme reflects the steadiness of the father's parental love + Repetition of 'A' rhyme reflects how the memory of the day continues to affect him years later.

"digging his garden, planting potatoes"

He works closely with the land. Alliteration emphasises that it's a repetitive ordinary action.

"came indoors to write to me, his knuckles singing" 

Use of caesura shifts the focus from his ordinary actions to personification. The personification shows the delight he feels. 

"It's not romance, simply how things are." 

While the narrator might romanticise this man's life, for him it's just reality. This could also be a description of their relationship. 

"me...feeding words onto a blank screen"

Figurative language creates a contrast between her feeding words and him feeding people with his potatoes. Her actions seem artificial compared to his experiences of nature.

"Is your life more real because you dig and sow?"

Rhetorical question in the middle stanza reflects how this issue is at the centre of what the poem is about.

"breaking ice on a waterbutt, clearing a path through snow"

Description of mundane, physical tasks shows how he sees his life as ordinary, but also reiterates his connection with nature.

"Still, it's you who send me word of that other world"

Alliteration and assonance make these words sound similar, but they're also different- this reflects how his words make the speaker feel close to his world but also remind her that she's distant from it. 

"pouring air and light into an envelope"

More natural than the words she writes. He writes to her about his day-to-day life and she romanticises it by describing it in terms of "air and light" - an almost magical description.

"watching the same news in different houses, our souls tap out messages across the icy miles"

Watching the same news hints that their lives aren't so different - this shared experience make her feel closer to him.

Spiritual language shows they have a deep meaningful connection.

Communication brings them together, despite the distance between them. Describing this distance as "icy" suggests that she dislikes being so far away from him.

Feelings and Attitudes:

• APPERCIATION- The narrator appreciates the man's way of life - she values his closeness to nature and how he experiences things that she doesn't in her everyday life.
• CONNECTION- The narrator and the letter writer are close- it seems that he writes to her a lot about little things that happen in his life are important to him, such as seeing lapwings.
• LONGING- She seems to long for his lifestyle - she sees it as romantic and fulfilling.
  

STRUCTURE-

First three stanzas, the narrator shows how she and the man live different lives.

Final stanza, it becomes clear that they have a deep connection.

FORM-

Written in free verse, which makes the poem flow like natural speech or a letter.

Enjambment allows lines and stanzas to flow into each other- this continuous movement reflects the way the seasons are constantly changing.

Use three-lined stanzas instead of an even number of lines makes the poem look disjointed - this reflects how the narrator feels disconnected to the man.

CONTRASTS- 

The narrator presents her lifestyle as different to the letter writer's - he works outside while she sits at a computer. Whilst he sees his life as ordinary, she romanticises it and sees her own life as inferior. Alliteration emphasises the contrast between her "heartful of headlines" and his "seeing the seasons" - the word "headlines" sounds melodramatic and artificial compared to the natural "seasons".

COMPARISONS-

Follower- The narrator here also looks up to someone whose life is connected with nature and longs to be with them.

Sonnet 29- The impact on the distance on relationships.

"They are waiting for me somewhere beyond Eden Rock"

The use of the present tense makes the scene he is describing feel more vivid.

Vague description hints that this is an imagined scene.

Biblical reference to the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place, which suggests that for the narrator, this place with his parents is perfect and peaceful.

"She pours tea from a Thermos"

The detailed descriptions of specific ordinary things show their importance to the narrator and the affection he has for the way his parents did things.

"sky whitens as if lit by three suns"

This hints at something otherworldly, in contrast with the ordinary descriptions of the first three stanzas - it is like a heavenly light. The three suns could also symbolise that their family of three has been reunited.

"My mother...looks my way over the drifted steam"

Even the stream is peaceful. This suggests he'll have no trouble crossing it to get to his parents.

"Leisurely,

They beckon me to the other bank"

Enjambment creates a pause, which may imitate the leisurely way the narrator's parents beckon to him.

"I had not thought that it would be like this"

Monosyllabic language creates a tone of child-like simplicity. The meaning of this last line is ambiguous- we don't know what "it" actually is. He may be referring to his preparing to be born or to dies, or he may be talking about the afterlife itself.

Feelings and Attitudes:

• Deep and lasting bond- The parents have been waiting for their son. If the narrator is talking about death, he isn't scared- he'll be reunited with his parents, so it's just like going back to childhood.
• Nostalgia- As the poet's father died when he was 7, the narrator's affection for the time when he and his parents were together as a family could reflect the poet's own desire to see his parents again.
• Peacefulness- There is a feeling of peace throughout the poem. This could reflect the narrator's emotions - he feels at peace when he thinks about his parents and imagines being reunited with them.

STRUCTURE-

First three stanzas the narrator affectionately describes his parents, showing his fondness for them.

Fourth and Fifth stanza his parents turn their attention to his and encourage his to join them.

FORM-

Five stanzas, mostly four line long and nearly every line has ten syllables- Regular structure reflects the steady nature of the narrator's relationship with his parents. 

Final line, separated from the rest of the stanza- could emphasise the narrator's current separation from is parents, or it could show that he has now crossed the stream and is looking at what's beyond.

The poet uses half-rhymes, which creates a gentle, natural rhythm. 

CONTEXT-

An only child, Causley was only 7 when his father died. He may be talking about his own parent in 'Eden Rock'.

COMPARISONS-

Follower- Explores the close, lasting bonds of parent/child relationships

Before you were mine- Discuss the vivid childhood memories

Letter From Yorkshire- How distance is overcome

"His shoulders globed like a full sail strung"

The assonant long "o" sounds emphasise the broadness of his shoulders.

This simile shows that, just as sails harness the power of the wind, he harnesses the power of the horses and uses them to plough.

"The horses strained at his clicking at his tongue"

This verb suggests tough, physical work. 

Onomatopoeia draws attention to his skill - he can control the powerful horses just by clicking his tongue.

"An expert"

Describing his father as an expert shows that he's technically skilled as well as strong. This short, blunt sentence and its position at the start of the line makes it a confident, inarguable statement.

"Mapping the furrow exactly"

Shows his father's "expert" skills.

"I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake"

This stanza change emphasises the contrast between the father's skill and the clumsiness of his son- it's unlikely he'll grow to be like his father.

"he rode me on his back"

This paternal image shows how the narrator and his father have a good relationship - he's patient and loving with his son.

"Dipping and rising to his plod"

He describes his father like a ship, riding the "Dipping" and "rising" 'waves' of the furrows. The rhythm of the poem itself seems to dip and rise - this imitates the boy's movement on his father's back.

"I wanted to grow and plough...All I ever did was follow"

"plough" and "follow" are only half-rhymes - this lack of a full rhyme emphasises how the son has not fulfilled his desire to follow in his father's footsteps.

"I was a nuisance tripping, falling,

Yapping always."

The list of verbs and enjambment emphasises the narrator's clumsy persistence.

"But today It is my father who keeps stumbling Behind me and will not go away"

Caesura makes this change to the present tense sudden and unexpected - is heightens the impact of the final few sentences.

Roles have been reversed as in line 13 the boy was stumbling behind his father.

The last sentence is ambiguous - the speaker may be frustrated that his father won't go away, or he may be glad that they still have a strong bond.

Feelings and attitudes:

• Admiration - The narrator admires his father's skill at ploughing. As a child, he hero-worshiped him and hoped to take his place one day, despite struggling to follow.
  
• Self-criticism- The narrator worries that he's a failure because he didn't follow in his footsteps.
  
• Family Ties- Despite not following in his father's footsteps, the narrator still has a close relationship with him- he "will not go away".

STRUCTURE-

First three stanzas focus on the father

Next two focus on the boy's struggles with his identity

Last stanza presents a role reversal - now the father is "stumbling/Behind" his son.

FORM-

Six stanzas, each four lines long and written mostly in iambic tetrameter.= Neat structure + Steady rhyme mimics the action of ploughing.

ABAB Rhyme scheme, some half-rhymes- this reflects how the boy falls short of being like his father.

CONTEXT-

Heaney was born Northern Ireland and grew up on his father's farm.

COMPARISONS-

Before You Were Mine- Admiration, and relationships changing over time.

Climbing My Grandfather/Mother Any Distance - Strong family bonds

Letters from Yorkshire - Nature

"Mother, any distance greater than a single span"

He addresses her directly. The poem is like a personal message to her.

A "single span" is the distance between his outstretched hands - he needs two people to measure anything greater than this. It's a small distance, which suggests that his mother's support is still important to him.

"You come help me measure...doors, the acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors."

Metaphors and hyperbole create images of vast, open spaces - this hints at adventure and exploration, but also suggests that he feels daunted. 

"Doors and floors" rhyme, but "hand" and "span" is only a half-rhyme - this shows the dislocation between him and his mother.

"You at the zero-end, me at the spool of tape, recording length...centimetres back to base"

Holding the start of the tape measure could stand for the time when he was born. The visual image of the tape as a link between him and his mother suggests an umbilical cord.

"Unreeling years between us. Anchor. Kite."

The tape represents their shared history, but also enjambment imitates how they're crossing into a new phase of their relationship. 

He's a kite starting to fly, but his anchor mother still keeps him secure. These two one-worded sentences show the pace of the poem, suggesting that he feel apprehensive and thoughtful.

"I space walk through the empty bedrooms"

Space metaphor reflects how he feels that being on his own is an exciting adventure, but it's also scary. It emphasises that this is a new experience for him.

"to breaking point, where something has to give"

Their relationship needs to change. He is trying to move away and she's trying to hold on.

"your fingertips still pinch the last one-hundredth of an inch..."

The use of the word "pinch" suggests, how desperately she doesn't want to let hm go. However, it also suggests pain- if she doesn't let him go, she'll hurt him. 

The ellipsis could reflect how the tape is being stretched out, or it could suggest that his mother finally lets go of the tape.

"I reach towards the  hatch that opens on an endless sky to fall or fly"

"endless sky" He feels there is no limit to the opportunities open to him - they can't be measured like the walls. His tone is optimistic, in contrast to the uncertainty of the final line.

Bird imagery suggests that hatching and 'flying the nest' - he's breaking free of his mother's protection, but doesn't know if he'll succeed without her security. The two short lines "has to give" and "to fall or fly" emphasises the message.

Feelings and attitudes:

Excitement- The narrator is excited about being independent in his new life.

Fear- He's also worried by the thought of being on his own.

Connection- The tape represents a strong bond between mother and son.

Appreciation- He appreciates her help and the security she offers him.

STRUCTURE- 

Frist stanza he talks about how he needs his mother

Second stanza begins to explore independence 

Last stanza he understands that "Something/ Has to give" if he is going to be independent. 

The poem ends with the narrator unsure whether he will "fall" or "fly".

FORM-

Loosely written in a sonnet form, shows that the speaker still loves his mother.

Unlike a sonnet it has an irregular rhyme scheme- reflects the narrator's feeling of uncertainty.

Uneven lines of the last stanza reflect how the bond between him and his mother is reaching a breaking point.

COMPARISONS-

Walking away- Looks at the way a parent and child relationship changes over time.

Before You Were Mine - Compare the presentation of the mothers

" I'm ten years away" + "I'm not here yet" + "The decade ahead"

The first three stanzas each start with a reminder of the distance between the narrator's birth and her mum's  youth and fun.

" you laugh on with your pals" 

The present tense is used to talk about an event in the past. This creates a vivid image- she could be imagining it, or looking at a photograph.

"Your polka-dot dress blows round your legs. Marilyn"

Compare her mother with Marilyn Monroe- he was a glamorous and desirable film star, but also a tragic figure who committed suicide aged 36. This could hint at unhappiness to come.

" I'm ten years away" + "I'm not here yet" + "The decade ahead"

The first three stanzas each start with a reminder of the distance between the narrator's birth and her mum's  youth and fun.

" you laugh on with your pals" 

The present tense is used to talk about an event in the past. This creates a vivid image- she could be imagining it, or looking at a photograph.

"Your polka-dot dress blows roundyour legs. Marilyn"

Compare her mother with Marilyn Monroe- he was a glamorous and desirable film star, but also a tragic figure who committed suicide aged 36. This could hint at unhappiness to come.

"The thought of me doesn't occur"

The could be a hint of jealousy here.

"Before you were mine, your Ma stands at the close"

The narrator sees her mother as having freedom before she was born, but she was also restrained by her own mother.

"you reckon it's worth it"

Her mum wasn't scared of the consequences of enjoying herself.

"I remember my hands in those high-heeled red shoes, relics, and now your ghost clatters towards me over George Square"

Relics are sacred religious objects from the past- to the narrator, her mother's glamour is precious but "ghost" highlights how it's in the past and won't return.

"Stamping stars from the wrong pavement"

Alliteration stresses her mum's defiance and energy.

"wrong pavement" contrasts with "right walk home". Maybe she's made the wrong choice in life.

FORM-

Four equal stanzas of five lines.- consistent form reflects the steady passage of time and the inevitable changes that time brings.

STRUCTURE-

Begins and ends with the mother on the pavement- at the beginning she's having fun with her friends and at the end, she's walking with her daughter

This emphasises the changes time has brought- there's a clear division between before and after the poet was born.

POSSESSIVE LANGUAGE-

Speaker believes she took her mum's freedom by being born. This reverses the typical idea of children wanting to break free from their parents.

"The clouds had given their all - two days of rain and then a break in which we walked"

Personification of the weather- the heavy rain may reflect the problems in their relationship.

Enjambment emphasises the pause in the weather, and perhaps in their arguing.

"Gulping for breath at our feet"

Personification of the earth's desperation links to how their relationship is struggling for life.

"Icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again like boats righting in rough weather"

Icebergs have more below the surface than they have above it- the metaphor may suggest that the couple keep things hidden from each other and aren't communicating, or it could imply that their relationship has a strong foundation.

Simile shows it's been a rough time for their relationship, but things are becoming more stable. The weather mirrors the rain stanza 1.

" 'They mate for life' you said as they left, porcelain over the stilling water" 

This is the first time we hear one of them speak to the other - this voice seems to confirm that they've turned a corner in their relationship.

" 'They mate for life' you said as they left, porcelain over the stilling water" 

This is the first time we hear one of them speak to the other - this voice seems to confirm that they've turned a corner in their relationship.

Porcelain is beautiful and strong - this metaphor reflects that hope that their love will have these qualities.

This verb represents how the distribution in their relationship is settling down.

"I noticed our hands, that had, somehow swum the distance between us...like a pair of wings settling after flight"

Their hands have crossed the physical distance between them, but also the metaphorical distance- they have come closer together emotionally.

Swan imagery to describe them holding hands- this reflects how they're following the example of swans.

"pair" They're no longer two seperate thjings, but part of one whole.

Full stop emphasises the sense that the trouble in their relationship has been resolved.

FORM-

Mostly written in tercets(three-line stanzas), look unbalanced.

Uneven line lengths and lack of rhyme scheme, contributes to a feeling of disjointedness- reflects the troubled nature of the couple's relationship.

The final stanza is a couplet, which shows that they've been reunited as a couple.

STRUCTURE-

They are seperated for the first five stanzas, but they renuite in the final two.

The swans provide a turning point at the start of stanza three- thet're beautiful and inspirational, in contrast to earlier descriptions nature as a place of suffering.This reflects how the couple have reached a turning point in their relationship. 

"I run just one ov my daddy's shops from 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock"

Childish language suggests his father still has control over his life.

Suggests lond, mundane working day.

" ven nobody in I do the lock"

Rebels against his father's rules-takes control of his own life.

"vee share in chapatti vee share in chutney"

Repitition emphasises the couple's unity.

" I return with my pinnie untied"

Disregards the shop- distracted by love. A comical image of rebellion.