English Literature poem quotes Flashcards
“Weep like a child”- Piano
Simile.
Has lost masculinity and become vulnerable like a child.
The music makes him childish. Children are unable to control their emotions.
Highlights the beauty of these memories but the sad reality of the present and that he can only remember what the past was like, that memories can cause more harm than good.
“Flood of remembrance”-Piano
Adjective to symbolize water and emphasized by the dactylic rythm.
Symbolises the overwhelming sensation of emotion that the music bought the poet.
It is pouring from him and he cannot contain his feelings, much relating to the flow of water.
Shows that memories can carry an uncontrollable flow of emotions that you could “drown” in.
“Insidious Mastery of song”/ “insidious Mastery” - Piano
The music is so emotionally powerful that it has complete control over the poet, and he has no choice.
The music is deceitful but has so much beauty within.
Songs attach themselves to memories, that become triggered when the music is heard again.
Shows that music can bring communities together or pull them apart.
“Tinkling piano our guide”- Piano
Onomatopoeia
Suggests a gentle and simple life, the piano being a strong reminder of the poets childhood experiences.
Adjective “tinkle” is soft and brings a sense of comfort and safety, showing the audience that the poets childhood was positive and so his memories reflect that “safe” experience he had.
He felt safe and happy with his mother and childhood.
“Heart of me weeps” - Piano
Emphasized by the dactyls.
The music has a powerful connection with the poet.
His heart has been personified to display his deep sadness over the loss of his childhood.
His emotions and feelings are so potent that there is a physical longing deep within him that wishes to be back in his childhood.
Implies that he has to accept this pain and live with the present, that you are unable to live off memories.
Structure within Piano:
First stanzas display warmth and happiness as he recounts his memories. Implies he is fond of his childhood experiences
The last stanza drastically changes into a more saddening mood as he realizes his reality and what he has lost.
This creates a contrast between the past and present, impling that memories form who you are in life
Themes of Piano
Memories, death, childhood
“Goodnight”. “Night” “close of day”. “Dying of light” - Do not go gentle into that goodnight
All euphemisms that carry connotations of death, and so the refusal to use the word shows the inability that the poet has to accept it.
Structurally placed at the end of the first three lines to create a comforting mood about death and that the reader should not be afraid of it.
“Rage, rage against the dying of the light”- Do not go gentle into that goodnight.
A refrain that is used to empazize the poets strong message and desire on fighting against death.
To never stop giving up, the message within the quotation is to overcome death, and in “the dying light” you keep on trying. Life is too precious to give up.
“Wise men… good men…..wild men……grave men…..” - Do not go gentle into that goodnight
This suggests the universality of death, and that it happens to anyone, even “desirable” people with good lifestyles.
The constant descriptions of desirable men e.g “wise men, good men” highlights the importance of the fight against death, these men acting as “models” to show the reader that if great people , or even anyone like “grave men” are capable of resisting, then so are you.
Acts as a motivation to continue pushing against death.
“Know dark is right” - Do not go gentle into that goodnight
Demonstrates to the reader that death is inevitable but can be resisted for as long as possible.
Death should be accepted but when it comes it should be fought.
Gives a comforting message that you should not be afraid of death.
“Dark” has a broad meaning that symbolises all negativity in life, and the antithesis for light shows that in order to see light there will always be darkness.
“and you, my father” - Do not go gentle into that goodnight.
This is the first use of second person- and so makes the account more personal and direct.
Engages the reader further as it is now something that can prove relatable, and that they also wish for their loved ones to continue to fight death.
Creates a mood of vulnerability as the poet reveals that his wishes his father to continue fighting and not give in to death.
Structure in Do not go gentle into that goodnight
Uses a villanelle form as the fixed structure to empasise how Thomas hopes to keep his fathers life in line and encourage him to fight against death.
Villanelles are usually used for positive messages, and so this creates a contrast with the mood of death, to not be afraid of it.
Structurally also addresses his father in the last stanza, switching perspectives to show the reader that death is universal.
It is important to be remembered for your actions .
Life is precious and should be fought after every turn.
Themes of Do not go gentle into that goodnight
Death, emotion
