Negative Romantic Love Poetry

Question 1

Give the author and contextual information of ‘When We Two Parted’

Answer 1

Lord Byron wrote this poem. He was having an affair with Lady Frances, which ended when she was courted by the Duke of Wellington. He is deeply affected by this loss.

Question 2

‘When We Two Parted’: When we two parted…

Answer 2

in silence and tears.”

Question 3

‘When We Two Parted’: … in silence and tears.”

Answer 3

“When we two parted.”

Question 4

‘When We Two Parted’: “Half

Answer 4

broken-hearted.”

Question 5

‘When We Two Parted’: …-hearted.”

Answer 5

“Half broken.

Question 6

‘When We Two Parted’: “The dew of the morning/

Answer 6

sunk chill on my brow.”

Question 7

‘When We Two Parted’: “Pale grew thy and

Answer 7

cold/colder thy kiss.”

Question 8

‘When We Two Parted’: …sunk chill on my brow.”

Answer 8

“The dew of the morning/

Question 9

‘When We Two Parted’: “Thy vows are

Answer 9

all broken.”

Question 10

‘When We Two Parted’: …all broken.”

Answer 10

“Thy vows are.

Question 11

‘When We Two Parted’: “A knell in mine ear;

Answer 11

A shudder comes o’er me.”

Question 12

‘When We Two Parted’: …a shudder comes o’er me.”

Answer 12

“A knell in mine ear.”

Question 13

‘When We Two Parted’: “Long, long shall I rue thee/

Answer 13

Too deeply to tell.”

Question 14

‘When We Two Parted’: …Too deeply to tell.”

Answer 14

“Long, long shall I rue thee/

Question 15

‘When We Two Parted’: “Thy

Answer 15

spirit deceive.”

Question 16

‘When We Two Parted’: “How should I greet thee?

Answer 16

With silence and tears.”

Question 17

Give the author and contextual information of ‘Love’s Philosophy’.

Answer 17

Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this poem. He was a romantic, obsessed with human connection to nature, and wrote this poem in 1819.

Question 18

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Fountains minge with

Answer 18

the river.”

Question 19

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “winds of

Answer 19

Heaven mix forever.”

Question 20

‘Love’s Philosophy’: …Heaven mix forever.”

Answer 20

“winds of

Question 21

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Nothing in the world is single/

Answer 21

all things by a law divine.”

Question 22

‘Love’s Philosophy’: …all things by a law divine.”

Answer 22

“Nothing in the world is single/

Question 23

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Why not I

Answer 23

with thine?”

Question 24

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “No sister-flower would be forgiven

Answer 24

if it disdain’d its brother.”

Question 25

‘Love’s Philosophy’: …if it disdain’d its brother.”

Answer 25

“No sister flower would be forgiven.”

Question 26

‘Love’s Philosophy’: “What is all this sweet work worth/

Answer 26

if thou kiss not me?”

Question 27

‘Love’s Philosophy’: …if thou kiss not me?

Answer 27

“What is all this sweet work worth/

Question 28

What feelings does ‘Love’s Philosophy’ evoke?

Answer 28

Feelings of inadequacy, insignificantness, but also a human connection with nature; we are all part of a system larger than ourselves.

Question 29

Give the author and contextual information of ‘Neutral Tones’.

Answer 29

This poem was written by Thomas Hardy. He comments on the repetitive and tolling nature of love, after enduring not one, but two divorces.

Question 30

‘Neutral Tones’: “Stood by a pond

Answer 30

that winter day.”

Question 31

‘Neutral Tones’: …that winter day.”

Answer 31

“Stood by a pond

Question 32

‘Neutral Tones’: “Sun was white, as though

Answer 32

chidden of God.”

Question 33

What words in Neutral Tones add to the semantic field of colour?

Answer 33

“White”, “grey”, “greyish”, “winter” has colours of white and grey.

Question 34

‘Neutral Tones’: “A few leaves

Answer 34

lay on the starving sod.”

Question 35

‘Neutral Tones’: …lay on the starving sod.”

Answer 35

“A few leaves

Question 36

‘Neutral Tones’: “Tedious riddles

Answer 36

years ago.”

Question 37

‘Neutral Tones’: “The smile on your

Answer 37

mouth was the deadest thing.”

Question 38

‘Neutral Tones’: …mouth was the deadest thing.”

Answer 38

“The smile on your

Question 39

‘Neutral Tones’: “Alive enough

Answer 39

to have strength to die.”

Question 40

‘Neutral Tones’: …to have strength to die.”

Answer 40

“Alive enough.

Question 41

‘Neutral Tones’: “A grin of

Answer 41

bitterness swept thereby.”

Question 42

Give all the oxymorons in ‘Neutral Tones’:

Answer 42

“Smile on your mouth was the deadest thing.” “Alive enough to have strength to die.” “Grin of bitterness swept thereby.”

Question 43

‘Neutral Tones’: “Keen lessons that

Answer 43

love deceives.”

Question 44

‘Neutral Tones’: “And wrings

Answer 44

with wrong.”

Question 45

‘Neutral Tones’: “Your face, and the

Answer 45

God-curst sun.”

Question 46

‘Neutral Tones’: “A pond edged

Answer 46

with greyish leaves.”

Question 47

‘Neutral Tones’: …with greyish leaves.”

Answer 47

“A pond edged

Question 48

What is the significance of the choice of body of water in ‘Neutral Tones’.

Answer 48

The body of water is a pond. This signifies the stagnance of his relationship, which is emphasised with the cyclical rhythm; this pattern repeats forever.

Question 49

What does the use of drab, lifeless colours in ‘Neutral Tones’ reflect?

Answer 49

The colours mirror his disconnect with his partner, and how that has affected his connection to nature itself.