"As Imperceptibly As Grief"

Question 1

“As imperceptibly as grief / The summer lapsed away”

Answer 1

Is also the title

Simile - both grief and summer slipped away unnoticed. Grief cannot be seen - internal.

“Grief” lapsed away like summer - Capitalised word

Question 2

“To seem like Perfidy”

Answer 2

Emily says summer is over. It is rather hidden / gradual than betrayal.

Question 3

“As Twilight long begun”

Answer 3

“Twilight” is usually quiet / links to night.

“Long begun” shows she has been in a state of grief for a long time. This quote implies she stays up at night, which may feel like it’ll last forever.

This also shoes grief is taking over her happiness.

Question 4

“Dusk drew / The morning foreign shone”

Answer 4

“Dusk/morning” show times of day, that darkness is taking over her happiness.

“Morning” symbolises the end of grief but “foreign” suggests she feels strange to leave it behind.

Question 5

“Harrowing Grace”

Answer 5

Contrast between polite and disturbing. Imagery of expecting morning to be pleasant but is unsettling

Juxtaposition / oxymoron

Question 6

“Light escape into the beautiful”

Answer 6

“Escape” implies that the subject was once trapped or being stopped from leaving. She wanted to hold onto Summer but also wanted to hold onto grief.

Summer’s escape suggests that the end if fried is positive as Summer escapes into the beautiful.

Question 7

What poems link to As Imperceptibly As Grief?

Answer 7

Nature - Aftenoons / Hawk Roosting / To Autumn
Grief - Death Of A Naturalist / A Wife In London