Ghazal Flashcards
Analyse: if i am the grass you the breeze. Blow through me
When referring to herself she uses nouns which are constant,still,organic and depend on nature. E.g grass
When referring to the man she uses nouns which are free flowing, moving and abstract which is normally around her. E.g breeze
Alliteration breeze and blow
Analyse: If I am rose and you the bird then woo me.
Rose - organic, constant but is also a symbol of love.
She depends on the bird to survive ( pollination )
Suggests that she depends on the man.
The word ‘if’ suggests that there is no relationship, and that it is part of the poets imagination, as if it could happen.
Analyse: if you are the rhyme and I the refrain, don’t hang on my lips, come and I’ll come too when you cue me.
Rhyme and refrain, are remarks on the structure of a ghazal poem
Rhyme - her lover, the measured constant to provide poetic artistry
Refrain - the poet, the repeated constant which returns each couplet to the central theme
Don’t hang on my lips - she’s forgotten what to say
Cue - give the man the power, man controls the woman
Come and I’ll come too - sexual language
Analyse: if yours is the iron fist in the velvet glove
Is almost a oxymoron statement as you would not think of a object and material such as iron fist to be with the elegance of a velvet glove
Iron fist - defiance
Velvet glove - femininity
Analyse: when the arrows flies, the heart is pierced, tattoo me.
Heart is pierced - implies damage
Physical scars or internal scars from the damage or tattoo
Symbolic tattoo if a arrow going through the heart
Analyse : If mine is the venomous tongue, you the serpents tail
Venomous - suggests poisonous words, bitterness
Links to unrequited love has been embittered
Serpent tails - symbolises a possible betrayal
Or it suggests she has darkness inside her
Analyse: charmer, use your charm, weave a spell and subdue me.
Power seems to always lye with the man
She wants him to control her.
Or is showing the magical power of love.
Analyse: if I am the laurel leaf in your crown, you are
- she is seen as insignificant of on leaf
- she is only a small segment of his glory
Analyse: the arms around my bark , arms that never knew me
Arms that never knew me suggests that there has been no physical relationship between the two
Proves of isolated or unrequited love.
Metaphorically - is this suggesting that the man is seen as a lumberjack and cannot see the beauty of the tree, so hacks it down
And the woman is a tree hugger who is not being recognised
Oh would that I were bark! So old and still a leaf.
Still in leaf - metaphor form youthfulness
This wish suggests that she is not young anymore.
Could possibly be why the man is not attracting with her
Analyse: what shape should I take to marry your own, have you hawk to my shadow
The alliteration and assonance could be used by the woman to try and match herself to him or relate to him.
The man, is a hawk who is free, but is also a predator which could suggest his power over the woman
The woman is a shadow who is still and is temporary. Could suggest that the relationship will not last.
Analyse: moth to my flame - pursue me
Flame - suggest that she is dangerous, the moth ( he ) will get burnt.
Will he pursue her ? He will not as they are incompatible.
Analyse: if I rise in the east as you die in the west, die for my sake, my love, every night renew me.
East and west, suggest that they will never meet.
Renew could suggest that she wants to renew her passion and love.
They are the complete opposite of each other.
Analyse: if, when it ends, we are just good friends, be my friend.
When it ends - relationship is imagined
Analyse: moth to my flame - pursue me
Flame - suggest that she is dangerous, the moth ( he ) will get burnt.
Will he pursue her ? He will not as they are incompatible.
