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,”
“Perhaps the roses really want to grow,”
Time is cruel and controlling and through the connotations, we can understand that Time even restricting the development of love because it brings the end closer and closer through its passage. Even though Time has this overarching control, humanity is still stubborn and may try to ignore Times part in our lives or refuse to let it overtake them, but Time’s power is not easy to ignore and so humanity must move with it and adjust to its effects.
Fear.
“Suppose all the lions get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away;”
“Suppose all the lions get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away;”
These are symbols of bravery and even they are scared of Time and wants to run from it. Time has managed to keep control of life and its cruelty is shown through it keeping things captive and under its control. The aquatic connotations of “brooks” symbolises water and so the passage of time which then reasserts the idea that Time is everywhere and powerful. Again, the bravery of soldiers is tested just like a lions and so highlights that Time controls our life more than we do in the larger picture of life.
Time?
“Will Time say nothing but I told you so?”
“Will Time say nothing but I told you so?”
Throughout the poem this is repeated but in the final stanza it becomes a question, further asserting the uncertainty there is for the future. The villanelle form has been clearly manipulated here by Auden who does this so that he can show Time as a character that has knowledge humanity will never contain. The uncertainty in his life is by the rhetorical question the refrain is manipulated into.
