If I Could Tell You Flashcards
Time.
“Time will say nothing but I told you so,”
“Time will say nothing but I told you so,”
The opening line of the poem tells us that Time knows something but will not tell us of it, all he will let us know is that he knew it would happen. Auden personifies time and this shows to us that Time is actually the controlling factor in human life which we cannot control and most of humanity is actually unaware of. Again, the lack of awareness that we have over Time’s control is highlighted through what it will not tell us and so reminds us that we do not know what is coming during life’s length.
Know.
“If I could tell you I would let you know.”
“If I could tell you I would let you know.”
There is a use of personal pronouns by Auden which indicates to us the addressee of the speaker. At this stage it is left ambiguous but what we can deduce is that the message of the poem is a warning that Auden intends on giving to whomever this poem is addressed to.
Performers.
“If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,”
“If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,”
The beginning of both lines in this poem highlight the uncertainty that comes around the future for humans who are not able to see into the future. This also emphasises the care that Auden has for his desired audience as he becomes vulnerable and expresses his uncertainty despite his desire to warn them. The tears that may be found when watching a clown could be attached to sadness but could also be positive. Time’s mass influence creates a mysterious mess and the following line deepens the negative connotations, reminding us of Time’s cruelty.
Fortunes.
“There are no fortunes to be told,:
“There are no fortunes to be told,”
There are bleak and mysterious ideas surrounding this quote. Time knows what is to happen while we do not and so we are at Time’s mercy. Time follows us through its passage but never informs us of what is to come, just lets it happen and watches us progress as time runs out.
Love.
“I love you more than I can say,”
“I love you more than I can say,”
There are hints of romantic nature towards the desired reader which makes us believe that Auden’s addressee is a lover. By taking into consideration Auden’s romantic life during the 1930’s we could come to determine that the addressee is a man as during this time he would not be able to openly confess his love to a man and so the hidden clues towards who the addressee allow us to understand how he had to go about his romantic life.
Wind.
“The winds must come from somewhere”
“The winds must come from somewhere”
The use of “must” reminds us that Time does have its purpose and that it certainly does have n’a overarching power over us. This quote helps us envision the beginning of life through imagery, but wind also is highly linked with autumn which is when nature slowly dies as the seasons turn colder and so suggests that humans have nothing to do with death and that instead it is a natural occurrence.
Leaves.
“There must be reasons why the leaves decay:”
“There must be reasons why the leaves decay:”
Again, the use of “must” reminds of us the certainty in the end and how Time holds its purpose in bringing that towards us. In the previous line Auden had hinted towards the beginning of life but now he is suggesting death and the end with the leaves decaying. Through time nature will die and that usually occurs during autumn.
Roses.
“Perhaps the roses really want to grow,”
