The Farmer's Bride – Charlotte Mew:

Question 1

Context:

Answer 1

Alleged homosexual – tone of longing and frustration.

Question 2

Summary:

Answer 2

A farmer talks about his wife of three years and finds her rejection unbearable. He doesn’t question whether he has any responsibility for his wife’s fear. He desires her and at the end may be struggling to resist taking her by force.

Question 3

Form:

Answer 3

A dramatic monologue with an iambic tetrameter. The rhyme scheme varies through the poem – giving a strong rhythm driving the narrative forward without appearing predictable. It’s from his point of view – his wife has no voice.

Question 4

Structure:

Answer 4

The first two stanzas tell how the marriage is failing and goes on to discuss how his wife is now, how he feels towards her and his sadness and desire.

Question 5

Dialect:

Answer 5

Gives a strong sense of the farmer’s character – we can hear his voice in his language and his grammar – adds to drama if we picture the people involved.

Question 6

Language about Nature:

Answer 6

Reflects his identity – whereas her descriptions link her to prey.

Question 7

Themes:

Answer 7

Frustration – He wants to consummate their marriage and have children but she is unwilling and uncommunicative.

Desire – He is attracted to his wife – expressed in the imagery he uses to describe her and his break down at the end.

Fear – She is evidently afraid – there is a sense of foreboding as the farmer is struggling to control his desire for her and there is little to suggest that there will be a happy ending for the couple.

Question 8

Compare to:

Answer 8

Compare to: Porphyria’s Love’s Philosophy, Neutral Tones and Sonnet 29.