Stanza 1 Flashcards
‘Spinning world’
‘Spinning’ suggests dizziness and disorientation, so their lovemaking was exciting and enjoyable. ‘World’ shows it was all encompassing and they had everything they needed when they slept together.
‘forests, castles, torchlight, clifftops, seas’
List emphasises the number and variety of experiences they had in bed, whether it was dramatic/romantic/dangerous/magical. Their lovemaking was very adventurous. Each item in the list is a reference to a Shakespeare play, so Hathaway is paying tribute to her husband’s work.
‘dive for pearls’
Diving is active, exotic, full of determination and thrilling, showing their lovemaking was very exciting and full of energy. Just as ‘pearls’ are rare and precious, Duffy is suggesting they found valuable, special moments that were intimate and meaningful like treasure. Perhaps a sexual climax.
‘shooting stars’
Just as shooting stars are attractive, different from the rest, special and watched by everyone, it suggests his language was unique to everyone else’s and she thought it was intriguing and beautiful, heavenly. Also suggests his work was very popular. This is what initially seduced her before physical love.
‘fell to the earth as kisses’
‘Fell’ suggests they fell from heaven as a gift from God. Earth suggests growing closer together, shooting stars were very far away. Just as kisses are an intimate sign of affection, it shows Shakespeare spoke lovingly and tenderly to Hathaway.
