A complaint Flashcards
What is the content of ‘The Complaint’?
The persona expresses a sense of loss at the change in a friend’s affections. Metaphors centered around water to express the change in feelings.
In accordance with Romanticism, his verses favor emotion and imagination above the merely rational.
What is the aim of ‘The Complaint’?
Convey the sadness of someone who is no longer loved unconditionally
What is the context of the William Wordsworth? [2]
Pioneer of the Romantic movement which was more about individual empression and emphasises on commonly felt emotions
Was Poet Laureate from 1843 to his death in 1850
Who wrote ‘The Complaint’?
William Wordsworth
What do critics say ‘The Complaint’? was about/context?
Some critics have suggested that ‘A Complaint’, published in 1807 refers to a cooling in his friendship with Coleridge, another poet.
This poem could, however, refer to a faltering romantic relationship
What is the tone of ‘The Complaint’? [3]
Slightly resentful
Reminiscent ib tge feeling of being in a relationship, longing for the relationship to come back
What is the form and structure of ‘The Complaint’ and how does this relate to the tone/aim of the poem? [4]
- 3 stanzas of 6 lines
- Regular structure which is contained and formed which portrays a relationship which is no longer relaxed and heartfelt
- ## Iambic pentameter
What does the persona feel about the relationship?
- Reflective
- Finds it emotionally painful to talk about
- Was valuable
What quotes show he is reflective of the relationship - techniques?
‘There is a change - and I am poor’
- Caesure gives a sense that he is pausing for though on his past and present relationship
- ‘Poor’ also suggests previus value was attached
What quotes show the flowing affection in the relationship - techniques?
‘A fountain at my fond heart’s door’
- Fricative alliteration emphasises the overflowing affection
- Suggests the past closeness of this person by the fact that their relationship is at the metaphorical center of affection
What technique is used in the first stanza and what does this symbolise?
Enjambent is used and is mimetic of the flow of water which represents the previous generosity in giving affection
What techinnque is used in the last two lines and what do these lines represent?
There is a circular structure as there is repitition of ‘such change at the very door of my fond heart, hath made me poor’
Emphasises the previous points of previous value close to the persona’s heart
What type of language and punctuation mark is used to emphasise the point William wants to make in the first three lines of the second stanza?
What is this point?
‘Blest was I then all bliss above!’
Use of vocabulary from the semantic field of religion in the second stanza (‘blest, bliss,concencrates. The ‘blest bliss’ gives a sense of pure happiness that felt sueprnatural.
The exclamation shows how he was feeling while the relationship. Use of past tense verbs, ‘did’ also show this.
What quote in the second stanza shows how the relationship in now?
’ A comfortless and hidden well.’
Emphasises how the water, which symbolises the affection, is not flowing anymore but has stopped.
Throughout the poem what technique is used to symbolise he is reflective on the relationship
Caesuras
