When We Two Parted – Lord Byron:

Question 1

Context:

Answer 1

Byron wrote this concealing the identity of the woman in the poem who was married – he was infamous for having affairs.

Question 2

Summary:

Answer 2

How he and his lover parted – she didn’t seem to have affection for him.

Question 3

Form:

Answer 3

Four 8 line stanzas – strong ABAB rhyme scheme and regular rhythm. Rhythm emphasis certain syllables – ‘cold’ and ‘kiss’ – highlighting the speaker’s pain. Cyclical structure – nothing changed. Strong rhythm - driving relentlessness. Monosyllabic – she lost affection for him. Formal and accomplished tone – masks sorrow.

Question 4

Structure:

Answer 4

The poem moves through time – there is a constant shift between past, present and future. The juxtaposition of the past and present shows there is no change in his feelings.

Question 5

Language about death:

Answer 5

To the narrator, the end of the relationship is like death – shows his former lover’s lack of feeling for him. Even hearing her name reminds him of death.

Question 6

Language about the senses:

Answer 6

Typical love poetry uses pleasant description – he doesn’t. He’s lost love and is hurt by it.

Question 7

Language about silence and secrecy:

Answer 7

Shows both – in the present and past. The silence contests with the voices of his friends in the third stanza which draws attention to the fact that he must stay silent about the affair.

Question 8

Themes:

Answer 8

Grief – as though it’s a death.

Anger – broken promises and other affairs.

Regret – suffered a lot.

Question 9

Compare to:

Answer 9

Neutral Tones, Walking Away, Porphyria’s Lover and Farmer’s Bride.