Negative Romantic Love Poetry Flashcards
Give the author and contextual information of ‘When We Two Parted’
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.
‘When We Two Parted’: When we two parted…
in silence and tears.”
‘When We Two Parted’: … in silence and tears.”
“When we two parted.”
‘When We Two Parted’: “Half
broken-hearted.”
‘When We Two Parted’: …-hearted.”
“Half broken.
‘When We Two Parted’: “The dew of the morning/
sunk chill on my brow.”
‘When We Two Parted’: “Pale grew thy and
cold/colder thy kiss.”
‘When We Two Parted’: …sunk chill on my brow.”
“The dew of the morning/
‘When We Two Parted’: “Thy vows are
all broken.”
‘When We Two Parted’: …all broken.”
“Thy vows are.
‘When We Two Parted’: “A knell in mine ear;
A shudder comes o’er me.”
‘When We Two Parted’: …a shudder comes o’er me.”
“A knell in mine ear.”
‘When We Two Parted’: “Long, long shall I rue thee/
Too deeply to tell.”
‘When We Two Parted’: …Too deeply to tell.”
“Long, long shall I rue thee/
‘When We Two Parted’: “Thy
spirit deceive.”
‘When We Two Parted’: “How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.”
Give the author and contextual information of ‘Love’s Philosophy’.
Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this poem. He was a romantic, obsessed with human connection to nature, and wrote this poem in 1819.
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Fountains minge with
the river.”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “winds of
Heaven mix forever.”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: …Heaven mix forever.”
“winds of
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Nothing in the world is single/
all things by a law divine.”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: …all things by a law divine.”
“Nothing in the world is single/
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “Why not I
with thine?”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “No sister-flower would be forgiven
if it disdain’d its brother.”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: …if it disdain’d its brother.”
“No sister flower would be forgiven.”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: “What is all this sweet work worth/
if thou kiss not me?”
‘Love’s Philosophy’: …if thou kiss not me?
“What is all this sweet work worth/
What feelings does ‘Love’s Philosophy’ evoke?
Feelings of inadequacy, insignificantness, but also a human connection with nature; we are all part of a system larger than ourselves.
Give the author and contextual information of ‘Neutral Tones’.
This poem was written by Thomas Hardy. He comments on the repetitive and tolling nature of love, after enduring not one, but two divorces.
‘Neutral Tones’: “Stood by a pond
that winter day.”
‘Neutral Tones’: …that winter day.”
“Stood by a pond
‘Neutral Tones’: “Sun was white, as though
chidden of God.”
What words in Neutral Tones add to the semantic field of colour?
“White”, “grey”, “greyish”, “winter” has colours of white and grey.
‘Neutral Tones’: “A few leaves
lay on the starving sod.”
‘Neutral Tones’: …lay on the starving sod.”
“A few leaves
‘Neutral Tones’: “Tedious riddles
years ago.”
‘Neutral Tones’: “The smile on your
mouth was the deadest thing.”
‘Neutral Tones’: …mouth was the deadest thing.”
“The smile on your
‘Neutral Tones’: “Alive enough
to have strength to die.”
‘Neutral Tones’: …to have strength to die.”
“Alive enough.
‘Neutral Tones’: “A grin of
bitterness swept thereby.”
Give all the oxymorons in ‘Neutral Tones’:
“Smile on your mouth was the deadest thing.” “Alive enough to have strength to die.” “Grin of bitterness swept thereby.”
‘Neutral Tones’: “Keen lessons that
love deceives.”
‘Neutral Tones’: “And wrings
with wrong.”
‘Neutral Tones’: “Your face, and the
God-curst sun.”
‘Neutral Tones’: “A pond edged
with greyish leaves.”
‘Neutral Tones’: …with greyish leaves.”
“A pond edged
What is the significance of the choice of body of water in ‘Neutral Tones’.
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.
What does the use of drab, lifeless colours in ‘Neutral Tones’ reflect?
The colours mirror his disconnect with his partner, and how that has affected his connection to nature itself.
