Poem Pairings

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PAIRINGS

Romantic Love 

Love's Philosophy + Sonnet 29 - Longing for eachother

  • The narrator longs to be with the woman he is adressing. The whole poem is an arguement designed to persuade the woman that 'Nothing in the world is single' and is frustrated that all of nature is in harmony except for him and his lover. The lack of harmony is reflected by the disruption of the reguar rhyme scheme by two half rhymes, 'river/ever'. The repetition of physical language, 'clasp' and 'kiss' emphasise his desire for her.
  • The narrator cant stop thinking about her lover and when they are not together , she compares her thoughts to 'wild vines', which cover a tree until there is 'nought to see'. She isnt satisfied with jus thinking about her lover. She calls her thoughts the 'straggling green which hides the wood', she is concerned that her thoughts will obscure the reality of him.

Porphyria's Lover + Farmer's Bride - Destructive love

  • The cold cottage reflects the narrator feelings of loneliness and despair when he is not with Porphyria. He listens for her 'with heart fit to break', his longing has pushed him to breaking point. The narrator says that Porphyria is 'too weak' to overcome her 'pride' and 'vainer ties' which reveals frustration that he yearns for her and doesnt seem to like her spending time elsewhere. His love becomes destructive when he 'srangled her'
  • The farmer's focus on his bride's physical features , such as her 'soft, young down' shows that he longs for a physical relationship, but she is afraid of him. In the last stanza, his exclamation, 'Oh! My god!' and the repetition 'the brown' 'her hair' suggests that he is struggling to contain his desire for her. This shows his building frustration and hints he may resort to force to get what he wants.

Sonnet 29 + Winter Swans - Fulfillment in their relationships

  • The narrator feels 'deep joy' when she is with her lover. The 'new air' she breathes implies she feels revived around him. The use of exclamation marks emphasise her excitement.  
  • Although the couple are initially growing apart, they overcome their tough time, mirroring the swans who return to the water's surface 'like boats rightning in rough weather'. The use of direct speech signals a turning point. The statament that swans 'mate for life' shows the couples realisation that their own relationship is permanent and can survive difficult times. The simple comparing the couples hands to a 'pair of wings settling after a flight' shows that they reconnected physcially and emotionally. 

When We Two Parted + Neutral tones - Experiencing loss

  • The narrator is badly affected by the loss of his lover. Funeral refernces e.g the death, 'knell' suggest that the narrator grieves for their relationship as though his lover has died. He says that 'vows are all broken' suggesting that she broke the promises…

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