Winter swans Flashcards
Who wrote winter swans
Owen sheers
What structure is winter swans written in
Written mainly in tercets, with one couplet at the end
What can be said about the tercets in winter swans, and the fact it ends with a single couplet
The tercets suggest an imbalance in the relationship, and the couplet reflects how stability has been restored by the end of the poem
What is an example of ceasura in ‘winter swans’
as we skirted the lake, silent and apart
What does the caesura suggest in the line, as we skirted the lake, silent and apart
The caesura splits up the line, which reflects the separation between the two
What is an example of partial rhyme in “winter swans” and what does this suggest
Words such as “water” and “weather” both share the “er” sound. This partial rhyme suggests a lack of perfection in the couples relationship
What happens to the rhyme in winter swans as the poem progresses
The rhyme become more and more full, for example, at the end, “sand” and “hand”, which suggests the reconciliation which is happening between the two
What does the quote, “the clouds had given their all” suggest
By personifying the clouds, it shows us the speaker feels personally attacked by them, which reflects his negative, victim mindset
What does the quote, “waterlogged earth gulping for breath” suggest
By personifying the earth, gulping seems as if it is drowning. This shows the suffocating, toxic nature of their relationship, which the speaker feels is “drowning” him.
What does the quote, “icebergs of white feathers” suggest
The colour imagery of “white” connotes purity and positivity, which is what both people want their relationship to be. The speaker is projecting his own wants and desires onto the nature around him
What does the quote, “returning again like boats righting in rough weather” suggest
The idea of rough weather reflects the troubles and tribulations which the couple have previously faced. The image of the boas “righting” suggests how the speaker feels that they can work past their problems and reconcile
