The Farmer’s Bride Flashcards
Context for the poem?
Written by Charlotte Mew who’s family had a history with mental illness
Her paternal grandfather was a farmer so she could have taken inspiration from this
Set in a society where farmers married other farmer’s daughters
How is love presented in the poem?
Marital, unrequited love
What are some themes in the poem?
Self Pity, Jealousy, Possession
“Frightened fay”
Alliteration - emphasises how small and vulnerable the wife is
“Of love and me and all things human”
Polysyndetic list - love is separated from the speaker, suggests their love is broken
We chased her flying like a hare”
Simile - wife is vulnerable makes her seem like prey and the husband is a hunter
“Shiver and a scare”
Sibilance - Prey like qualities, wife is scared to go back and getting locked up
“I’ve hardly heard her speak at all”
Italics - focus on the speaker and his jealousy, she cares for animals but doesn’t care for him
They have a lack of love in their relationship and a lack of communication, suggests she didn’t want the marriage
“Chat and play / with birds and rabbits”
Animalistic link - she cannot speak to humans due to anxiety, mental illness, contextual link
She is a victim of the farmer’s abuse
“What’s Christmas-time without there be”
“Some other in the house than we!
Thinks Christmas time should be a time for children but they won’t, links to author, expressing his feelings
“Her hair, her hair!”
Repetition - realises his faults and his mental state is breaking down
Acts as a warning to other farmers to treat their wives well
