Shut Out Flashcards
What is ‘shut out’ about?
The speaker is a mourner in exile. They say they once had a beautiful secret garden but one day, without warning, they arrived to find its gate barred and guarded by a remorseless spirit. Could be about suffering, serious depression and or creative block.
When was ‘Shut out’ published?
In 1862, GM + other poems
What are the main themes in ‘Shut out’ ?
Loss, grief, suffering, separation.
What is the main symbol in ‘Shut out’ ?
The garden, many interpretations— i.e simple happiness, to love, to childhood, to creativity, to a sense of self.
What is the rhyme scheme of ‘shut out’?
ABBA, fitting for any poem regarding grief. Returns and returns to where it started.
What is the form of ‘shut out’ ?
Seven quatrains
What is the meter of ‘shut out’ ?
Iambic tetrameter, each line uses 4 iambs.
