when we two parted Flashcards
Who wrote when we two parted
By lord byron
What is the effect of emotive language in the poem?
It heightens the unspeakable suffering of loss
Emotive language intensifies the emotional impact on the reader.
What does the phrase ‘half broken-hearted’ suggest?
Indicates mixed emotions about the parting
This suggests that not all parties are equally affected by the separation.
What semantic field is present in the poem and what does it imply?
Coldness and death imagery suggesting emotional detachment
This imagery creates a sense of heartlessness in the relationship.
What is the significance of the repetition of ‘cold/colder’?
It heightens the hurt to the speaker’s pride
The repetition emphasizes the loss of warmth and passion.
What does the pronoun ‘we’ signify in the poem?
Signals mutual pain at the relationship ending
This indicates shared emotional suffering between the speaker and their former lover.
What is the structure of the first two lines of the poem?
They describe parting in silence and tears
This sets a somber tone for the poem.
What do the lines ‘Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss’ imply?
Suggests a loss of passion and warmth in the relationship
The imagery conveys emotional distance.
What is the significance of the verb ‘sever’?
Has traumatic connotations, indicating a painful separation
This word choice underscores the intensity of the breakup.
What does the speaker’s resentment towards their former lover indicate?
It highlights unresolved feelings and bitterness
This resentment adds depth to the emotional landscape of the poem.
What is accentual verse and how is it used in this poem?
Every line has two stressed syllables, except lines 5 and 7
This structure creates a rhythmic flow that reflects the poem’s themes.
What might the breaking of the poem’s rhythm symbolize?
The dismantling of the already broken relationship
This reflects the emotional turmoil experienced by the speaker.
How does the speaker’s loss of self-control manifest in the poem?
Through emotional outbursts and expressions of pain
This indicates the depth of their sorrow and struggles with the breakup.
What is the main purpose of the poem ‘When We Two Parted’?
To express sorrow at the loss of a relationship
The poem reflects deep emotional pain and mourning.
What does Byron imply about the nature of the relationship in ‘When We Two Parted’?
The relationship was a secret
This secrecy contributes to the speaker’s grief.
Who is widely believed to have inspired ‘When We Two Parted’?
Lady Frances Wedderburn Webster
Byron’s affair with her is often cited as the inspiration for the poem.
What aspect of Byron’s life is the poem thought to be about?
Byron’s controversial love life
This poem reflects one of Byron’s public affairs.
What type of narrative structure does the poem have?
Cyclical narrative
This structure reflects the ongoing themes in the poem.
What is the verse type used in the poem?
Accentual verse
Accentual verse focuses on the number of stresses per line.
How are the line lengths described in the poem?
Irregular line lengths
This contributes to the poem’s unique rhythm and flow.
What semantic fields are prominent in the poem?
Semantic field of death and despair
These themes deepen the emotional impact of the poem.
What is one of the key emotional states of the narrator?
Mourning
The narrator’s grief is central to the poem’s theme.
What is a challenge faced by the narrator in the poem?
Unable to express their true feelings
This struggle adds to the complexity of the narrator’s emotions.
What morbid references do both speakers use to express their sadness?
Auditory imagery and metaphors
Byron uses ‘A knell to mine ear’ and ‘In silence I grieve’; Hardy uses ‘The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing’ and ‘Alive enough to have strength to die’.
What phonetic technique is used by both Byron and Hardy to convey sadness?
Sibilance
Byron uses phrases like ‘share in its shame’ and ‘silence and tears’; Hardy uses ‘bitterness swept thereby’ and ‘keen lessons that love deceives’.
How is the speaker’s dejection reflected in ‘Neutral tones’?
Negative description of surroundings
The natural imagery is subverted in the listing: ‘Your face, and the God curst sun, and a tree, and a pond edged with greyish leaves.’
In which poem does the speaker reflect on internalized feelings?
‘When we two parted’
The reflection is shown in the line ‘In silence / grieve’.
Fill in the blank: Byron’s use of auditory imagery includes ‘A knell to mine ear’ and _______.
‘In silence I grieve.’
True or False: Hardy uses the metaphor ‘The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing’ to express joy.
False
This metaphor conveys sadness and loss.
What literary device is used in both poems to enhance the theme of sadness?
Phonetics
Sibilance is specifically noted in both poets’ works.
What is the effect of syndetic listing in ‘Neutral tones’?
It creates a negative portrayal of the environment
This contrasts with positive connotations typically associated with natural imagery.
How does Hardy’s use of metaphors contribute to the theme of love deceiving?
It emphasizes the bitterness and disillusionment of love.
What is the effect of pathetic fallacy in the poem?
Heightens the emotional experience
What does the phrase ‘cool - ‘chill’ of this morning’ suggest?
An abrupt and harsh revelation
What implication does the poem make about the characters?
They may have slept together the night before
What literary element is compared to a Shakespearean sonnet?
Alternating pairs of rhymes
What does the phrase ‘Sunk chill on my brow’ indicate?
A shift from past reflection to present
What does the full stop in line 4 signify?
Finality and urgency to the tone
What do ‘Vows’ refer to in the context of the poem?
Wedding vows
What does the phrase ‘Thy vows are all broken, love’ imply?
Emphasizing undying love despite betrayal
What does ‘Light - weakness - scandal follows this lover’ suggest?
The lover’s fame is associated with betrayal
What is the effect of the sibilance in ‘spoken’, ‘share’, and ‘shame’?
Creates a whispering effect of overhearing rumors
What atmosphere is created by the vagueness of the opening?
A secretive atmosphere
Fill in the blank: The dew of the _______ contrasts with the emotional tone.
morning
True or False: The poem incorporates a structured rhyme scheme similar to a Shakespearean sonnet.
False
