neutral tones

Question 1

‘the smile on your mouth was the deadest thing’

Answer 1

oxymoron- emphasises complete lack of feelings towards him. It is dead joy

superlative- there’s no hope left in the relationship

Question 2

‘like an ominous bird a-wing’

Answer 2

similie + adjective + imagery of bird flying away like she is leaving and relationship has ended
‘ominous’ = negative

Question 3

‘greyish leaves’

Answer 3

the leaves are grey because they are rotting which reflects how their love has decayed
repetition of grey from first stanza emphasises decay

Question 4

‘neutral tones’ (TITLE)

Answer 4

• there is a lack of strong emotion
• ‘neutral’ implies dullness
• ‘tones’ suggest more than one reason why relationship has ended
  it is colourless and there’s no joy in their relationship
  title hints that the poem will explore a relationship that is lifeless and not bright