Passing and Glassing Flashcards
What is Passing and Glassing about? (4 points)
This is a poem about passing time from a woman’s point of view - the ‘looking-glass’ is a metaphor for fading looks
The second stanza insists, again through the metaphor of flowers, that even women past their best can be beautiful
The third stanza asserts that wisdom replaces beauty
The title is a concise metaphor for passing time - the woman passes before a mirror and observes herself, but she also recognises her own ageing
What is the structure of Passing and Glassing? (3 points)
The poem is divided into three eight-lined stanzas, each representing a different life phase
There are varying line lengths and the rhyme scheme is complex with the pattern AABBBCCA
There is no regular metrical pattern - this creates an unsettling rhythm that holds the attention of the reader
What is the language and imagery of Passing and Glassing? (3 points)
The voice is that of a third person narrator
and is written entirely from women’s point of view - the male gaze is entirely absent
The dominant imagery is that of flowers - each flower has its own symbolism
The mirror/glass is a metaphor for passing time
What other poems can Passing and Glassing be linked to?
Memory
May
Goblin Market
What is the relevant context for Passing and Glassing?
