Owen Sheers - Winter Swans

Question 1

What is the poem about?

Answer 1

A couple walks around a lake after two days of bad weather. They don’t talk to one another and walk apart- which shows how their relationship is troubled. They stop to look at some swans, watching as they tip under the water, right themselves and swim away. This seems to change the mood between the two of them. They carry on, holding hands this time, they appear to have made up.

Question 2

Give a brief synopsis of the poem

Answer 2

• Introduces two characters walking in a break between bouts of rain and bad weather
• Speaker mentions they’re walking around a lake
• They’re stopped in their journey after seeing some swans in the water
• The character the speaker is addressing says that the swans mate for life
• The speaker and addressee start holding hands, suggesting they’ve started to make up after a disagreement or conflict
• The speaker compares their hands together as the swan’s wings after settling from flying.

Question 3

When was the poet born?

Answer 3

1974

Question 4

When was the poem published?

Answer 4

2005

Question 5

How was the poem published?

Answer 5

As part of the poet’s Skirrid Hill collection, which centred on relationships.

Question 6

Context regarding Owen Sheers

Answer 6

• Sheers is a Welsh poet, actor and TV presenter whose work tends to focus on exploring identity and relationships, along with how people live together in society, and this poem combines these themes succinctly

Question 7

Context regarding “Skirrid Hill”

Answer 7

• A collection which was described by The Guardian as ‘beautifully elegiac’.
• It has the themes of disintegration and breakdown running through it, though Winter Swans opens employing this theme before the couple rekindles their love.

Question 8

“The clouds had given their all -“

Answer 8

• Personification of clouds to suggest there are external forces with ulterior motives which are negatively affecting the couple’s relationship I suggests that the heavy rain may have negatively affected their relationship
• Alternatively, this familiar language emphasise to the reader the awful weather

Question 9

“two days of rain and then a break”

Answer 9

• Introduces the semantic field of pairings, “two” and this could also metaphorically suggest that both individuals in the couple have volatile and argumentative personalities
• Enjambment mimics the pause in the weather and perhaps their arguing

Question 10

“in which we walked,”

Answer 10

• Collective pronoun, which hints at the themes of enduring and unconditional love - they are intrinsically linked

Question 11

“the waterlogged earth”

Answer 11

• Could symbolises the issues the couple are having in their communication

Question 12

“gulping for breath at our feet”

Answer 12

• Reflects caged environment the couple has been living during the “two days of rain”, and perhaps the feeling of claustrophobia the relationship is presenting the couples
• A collective pronoun “we” used for the couple which suggests there is still hope they will resolve their conflict or suggest they have a life-long connection despite adversity
• The personification of the earth as desperate links to how their relationship is also struggling.

Question 13

“as we skirted the lake, silent and apart,”

Answer 13

• Creates a bleak image, and suggests the couple is emotionally lacking, and there are problems between them
• “Skirted the lake” has multiple implications, could metaphorically suggest that the lake is representative of their issues troubling them and they’re not addressing them, keeping their distance or that they keep to the edge of the lake
• “lake, silent”- caesura creates a pause, which emphasises their silence and separation.

Question 14

“until the swans came and stopped us”

Answer 14

• Pausing movement of the couple on their walk, “stopped”

Question 15

“with a show of tipping in unison.”

Answer 15

• Punctuation after “unison.” highlights the stop the couple takes from their walk after noticing the swans
• ‘a show’ suggests that the swans’ activities are meaningful to the couple.

Question 16

“As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads”

Answer 16

• Simile of “weights” could be symbolic of the issues and arguments which are haunting the couple
• Image implies the couple feels weighed down with problems in their relationship.

Question 17

“they halved themselves in the dark water,”
“icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again”

Answer 17

• “halved” - returns to pairings imagery; on a figurative level, could imply swans appear a unit and are soulmates, but separate to become single entities again, implies two have separated but were whole to begin with, reflects couple’s relationship
• Two contrasting colours, “dark” and “white” perhaps a reassuring message that two individuals an always return to each other after setting their differences apart
• ‘iceberg’ suggests most of an iceberg is under the surface of the water, the metaphor reflects how the couple may have hidden things from one another and aren’t communicating. Conversely, it may simply suggest that their relationship has a strong foundation.

Question 18

“like boats righting in rough weather.”

Answer 18

• Simile of likening the swans to boats, which are symbols of stability, continues the theme of retuning and reassurance to the end of the stanza
• The simile also shows that they’ve been through a “rough” time in their relationship but things have gotten more stable. The “rough weather” also reflects the rain of stanza 1.

Question 19

“‘They mate for life’ you said as they left,”

Answer 19

• Other speaker speaks for the first time, regains a sense of balance between them in the poem’s narrative
• Breaking silence with one speaker’s direct dialogue
• This is the first an only time that either one of them speaks in the poem. This appears to confirm that things are improving.

Question 20

“porcelain over the stilling water. I didn’t reply”

Answer 20

• “porcelain” - connotations of purity, perhaps have biblical connotations of remaining with one partner for life, connected to concept of “soulmates”
• “porcelain” is both beautiful and strong, the metaphor implies that the couple hopes their relationship will share these properties
• “stilling water” - the verb reflects how the disruption in their relationship is settling down.

Question 21

“but as we moved on through the afternoon light,”

Answer 21

• Returning to collective pronouns at end of the poem “we”
• “Light” often used in literature as a symbol of hope, suggests to the reader the conflict in the relationship will be resolved by the conclusion of the poem

Question 22

“slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand,”

Answer 22

• “shingle and sand” - hard to walk on, may present the difficult nature of working through a conflict, and how both people have to put in a lot of effort to resolve the situation
• “slow stepping” - the act is reminiscent of dancing, the two are moving together in unison as the swans did
• The repeated “S” sounds throughout the stanza create an impression of softness, which reflects how the tension between them has eased.

Question 23

“I noticed our hands, that had, somehow,”
“swum the distance between us”

Answer 23

• References the imagery and symbolism of the swans from earlier - suggest couple have put aside differences
• Similar to start of poem when rain is personified, this time, the actions of the couple are being compared to nature, which suggests that they’ve become part of the natural world to an extent
• Perhaps they have followed the message of the swans ad decided to make a life-long connection
• “distance between us” - their hands have crossed the physical distance between them, but also a metaphorical one, they have gotten closer emotionally.

Question 24

“and folded, one over the other,”

Answer 24

• Semantic field of reuniting and pairings

Question 25

“like a pair of wings settling after flight.”

Answer 25

• Retiring to imagery of stability and solidarity
• “swum” and “wings” - swan imagery to describe them holding hands suggests that they are following the swans’ example
• “pair” - shows they are no longer separate from one another but are instead part of a whole.

Question 26

Explain the importance of the title of the poem

Answer 26

• Whilst winter is never explicitly mentioned, only hinted at through the darker imagery of the weather
• Swans are majestic animals
• “Winter” may be more of an unusual metaphorical reference, because swans migrate and therefore it’s strange that they’d be present during the poem if it is winter
• Theme of migration links the theme of movement within a relationship, Sheers may be trying to introduce theme in the title, as well as suggesting the couple’s relationship is a bit unorthodox

Question 27

Describe the perspective the poem uses

Answer 27

• There are two speakers, who are sometimes presented as a unit and sometimes presented as speaking and acting separately.
• The narrative is from a first-person perspective, however they are addressing someone who they’re romantically (it’s implied) involved with.
• It is ambiguous whether this is based on a true event in Sheers life, in which case it could be semi-autobiographical, or not.

Question 28

Describe the opening of the poem

Answer 28

• The poem opens on a focus on the weather, with the personification of the clouds - “given their all” - to suggest there are external forces with ulterior motives which are negatively affecting the couple’s relationship. * Alternatively, this familiar language really emphasises to the reader the awful weather. This creates a foreboding atmosphere for the rest of the poem, and hints to the reader that this may be a poem focusing on a detrimental relationship
• On the other hand, the pronoun “we” presents the couple as unified which hints at the themes of enduring and unconditional love.
• By mentioning that there has been “two days of rain”, Sheers is introducing the semantic field of pairings, and this could also metaphorically suggest that both individuals in the couple have volatile and argumentative personalities.

Question 29

Describe the structure of the poem regarding inconsistent form

Answer 29

• Sheers doesn’t use a rhyming scheme or consistent syllable line count, which could be interpreted as a commentary on the unpredictable and flexible nature of relationships.

Question 30

Describe the structure of the poem regarding stanza structure

Answer 30

• The poem is structured into four sentences stretched over twenty lines, which continues the theme of symmetry and pairings into the format of the poem.
• The enjambment used here reflects the fluidity of the conversation the couple are having and makes the pace of the poem feel more natural.
• Aside from the final pair of lines, the poem is structured into stanzas of three lines, which may be a textual mirror of the obstruction placed between two individuals, perhaps reflecting what is causing their argument.

Question 31

Describe the structure of the poem regarding couplets

Answer 31

• Sheers uses a fInal couplet to suggest a resolution to the separation or tension between the couple, and couplets are often used to display one single direct thought.
• However, the couplet doesn’t rhyme, which could suggest there is still some tension in the couple’s relationship. and folded, one over the other, like a pair of wings settling after flight.
• This conclusion ties the poem together and presents the couple as reunited again but not fully.

Question 32

Describe the structure of the poem regarding caesura

Answer 32

• Sheers uses caesura to reflect the break in the relationship and conversation, and arguably to symbolise the cracks in the couple’s relationships.
• The pauses the reader is forced to take by the caesura mirrors the struggles of the couple’s relationship.
• These pauses could also reflect a tone of contemplation which is housed throughout the poem also.

Question 33

Describe the form of the poem.

Answer 33

• The poem is written mostly in tercets, which makes the poem appear unbalanced.
• The uneven line lengths and the lack of a rhyme scheme both assist this disjointed feeling, which reflects their troubled relationship.
• However, the frequent enjambment emphasises their continuity. The final stanza is a couplet, which mimics how they’ve reunited as a couple

Question 34

Describe the structure of the poem.

Answer 34

• The narrator and his partner are separated for the first five stanzas.
• The swans provide a turning point at the start of stanza three, they’re beautiful and inspirational, in contrast to the earlier descriptions of nature as a place of suffering.
• This reflects how the couple have reached a turning point in their relationship.

Question 35

Describe the use of language about swans

Answer 35

• The swans are used as a symbol of enduring a timeless love as swans “mate for life”.
• Due to their white colour, swans are often used in literature as a symbol of light and purity.
• They are also a feminine symbol although in Greek mythology the swan was linked to the Sun God Apollo.
• In alchemy, the swan is seen to symbolise melding of opposites such as fire and water.
• With this understanding of a swan’s importance to the poem, it could be suggested that the two individuals have very opposing personalities, with is perhaps why the two characters in the poem are not getting on well in a relationship.

Question 36

Describe the use of language about the semantic field of pairings

Answer 36

• There is a semantic field of pairs - including “two days”, “halved”, “pair of wings”, “one over the other’’ - to represent the couple and their intimacy and desire to be together.
• The couple are compared to the swan, and eventually it helps them rekindle their relationship as it’s noted that they “mate for life”.

Question 37

Describe the use of natural imagery in the poem.

Answer 37

• Natural Imagery reflects how their relationship struggles and then improves, swans are a metaphor for their relationship- as they’re part of the natural world- they epitomise how natural love is.
• This influences the couple- they hold hands so naturally that they don’t even notice it happen.
• Natural imagery Sheers employs a great amount of natural imagery which could suggest that relationships, along with the conflicts which accompany them, should be embraced as a natural part of human life.
• Their conflict is resolved with a walk in nature and seeing the swans, which may be Sheers highlighting the critical importance of nature in our society.
• Nature is personified, such as in the lines “the clouds had given their all” and “waterlogged earth // gulping for breath”. This makes it easier for Sheers to introduce exterior motives and forces which could be affecting the couple’s relationship.
• If it is a semi-autobiographical poem, this could be seen to be an attempt to remove the blame for the disruption in the relationship on himself, the speaker

Question 38

Describe the use of language about weather

Answer 38

• The “two days of rain” creates an ominous and foreboding tone for the poem and the relationship.
• However, the weather improves as the poem progresses, and this may reflect the healing of the couple’s relationship as they put aside their differences.

Question 39

Describe the use of contrasts/ juxtaposing language in the poem.

Answer 39

• Language about disturbance and peace, separation and togetherness, leaving and returning, is used to show how the couple is making up after a conflict in their relationship.
• Juxtaposing language Contrasting language such as “dark water” and “white feather” could be argued to be commenting on how simplified conflict can be by comparison to the complexities of human relationships and love. It could also be displaying the ups and downs experienced by people in a relationship.

Question 40

Describe how direct speech is used in the poem.

Answer 40

• The poem contains one piece of dialogue, which shifts the focus back onto the couple.
• It also literally breaks the silence between them, which shows that there’s hope for their relationship.

Question 41

How are feelings/attitudes of tension displayed in the poem?

Answer 41

• It’s clear that something has happened between the narrator and his partner - the earth is “gulping for breath” and they walk “silent and apart”

Question 42

How are feelings/attitudes of peace displayed in the poem?

Answer 42

• There’s a feeling of peace towards the ends of the poem. The couple have had their problems, but they return to each other and are settled in the end

Question 43

Themes:

Answer 43

• Distance
• Nature
• Anger, Bitterness
• Reconciliation

Question 44

Compare With:

Answer 44

• Neutral Tones
• Letters From Yorkshire
• Singh Song
• Sonnet 29
• When We Two Parted

Question 45

Distance:

Answer 45

• “Two days of rain and then a break”
• ” As we skirted the lake, silent and apart

Question 46

Nature:

Answer 46

• “Until the swans came and stopped us”
• “The waterlogged earth”

Question 47

Anger, Bitterness:

Answer 47

• “They halved themselves in the dark water”

Question 48

Reconciliation:

Answer 48

• ” With a show of tipping in unison”

Question 49

Compare With: Neutral Tones

Answer 49

• Nature, they both start with ponds
• They both start in the past
• They both start with a bad, miserable start

Question 50

Compare With: Sonnet 29 “ I Think Of Thee”

Answer 50

• Nature is shown
• Their relationship is distant
• In the end, they are together