The Pine Planters: Part 2

Question 1

Structural points?

Answer 1

12 lines, same structure as first part of poem, just longer verses
Alternate rhyming couplets, consistent rhyme - this is more consistent than the first verse and looks more formed, showing how now she is trying to be more in control of her emotions

Question 2

"From the bundle at hand here
I take each tree,
And set it to stand here
Always to be;
When, in a second,
As if from fear
Of Life unreckoned 
Beginning here,
It starts with a sighing 
Through day and night,
Though while there lying
'Twas voiceless quite."

Answer 2

Shift from using lots of pronouns in the first half - feeling of growth and a shift in tone
Only pronoun use is of “I” - her “taking” something, showing how she is trying to seem more in control
“Always to be;” - perhaps a metaphor for her feelings, which will always remain, no matter how she tries and distracts herself with work and action, personifies the tree
The directness used in the first part of the poem is now gone and replaced with more delicacy.
She describes the tree as “sighing” from the fear of the personified “Life” - more focused on the trees and nature, romantic descriptions, less focused on herself and the man

Question 3

"It will sigh in the morning,
Will sigh at noon,
At the winter's warning,
In waft's of June;
Grieving that never 
Kind Fate decreed
It should for ever
Remain a seed,
And shun the welter
Of things without,
Unneeding shelter
From storm and drought."

Answer 3

Repetition of “sigh” - physical expression of pain and sadness
“winter’s warning” “waft’s of June” - the pain and sadness will be there throughout the year and seasons
“remain a seed” - her love will only remain a seed never to bloom, also like a seed of doubt that stays in her mind, no matter how hard she tries to distract herself

Question 4

"Thus, all unknowing
From whom or what
We set it growing
In this bleak spot,
It will still grieve here
Throughout its time, 
Unable to leave here
Or change its clime;
Or tell the story
Of us to-day
When, halt and hoary,
We pass away."

Answer 4

“unknowing” - she does not know about the future of them, suggesting she still has hope
“We set it growing” - very positive image, use of pronoun of togetherness, and image of growth, they are growing a seedling tree but could be a metaphor for their growing relationship
“bleak spot” - contrasts to positive line before
Creates sympathy for the tree, as it is stuck in a “bleak spot” where it will “grieve” and where it is unable to “leave”, change its surroundings or tell its story - represents how the story between Marty and Giles will not succeed and not be happy as they place they started growing (the tree) together was not a nice place
Outwardly she continues to work with him and planting trees - positive - and this juxtaposes with her negative feelings
“We pass away” - last line, shows her ongoing feelings and contrasts to what she has been saying in the poem, about her hope and their love, yet final pronoun of unity shows that she still wants her final image of them together even if they are “passing away” - this could be a metaphor for their love dying away or just them leaving the tree behind

Question 5

Personal response?

Answer 5

I think that the poem is very moving in showing Marty’s situation of unrequited love. The change in structure of the poem especially shows her attempt to try and gain control of her feelings, but then by the end of the poem, she is defeated and accepts their permanence.