Twice

Question 1

“Yet a woman’s words are weak:
You should speak, not I.”

Answer 1

Twice:
- The speaker is handing control to the man
-Conforming to the social norm that men have ultimate power over women
- Her tone could be sincere, or perhaps bitter for his attempt to control their relationship

Question 2

“You took my heart in your hand
With a friendly smile,
With a critical eye you scanned,”

Answer 2

Twice:
- Repeats the opening line but reverses it to transfer power to the man
- Image of a false smile avoiding the eye
- Man appears kind mannered but in fact he is coldly judging her
- Internal rhyme
- “Critical eye” suggests that he only favours her beauty
- Objectifying makes him a poor judge

Question 3

“Yea, hold it in Thy hold.
Whence none can pluck it out.”

Answer 3

Twice:
- Indicates that God’s love is permanent, unlike the temporary love she had for the man
- When you love God, you cannot love someone else
- “Pluck” has significance as the speakers’ heart is safe with God, untouched

Question 4

“I take my heart in my hand,
I shall not die, but live.”

Answer 4

Twice:
- Speaker once again reprises the opening line and takes her heart in her hand
- This time she is confident as her heart is protected by God

Question 5

“Smile Thou and I shall sing,
But shall not question much.”

Answer 5

Twice:
- Her submission to God is absolute
- Reminiscent of the marriage service
- It is to God that she is commiting herself
- Here she is submitting to God and does not question him
- Parallels between romantic love and religious devotion