Winter Swans Flashcards
What type of poem is winter swans?
Romantic
What are the key themes of winter swans?
- Nature
- Separation
- Loss
- Reconciliation
Key quotes for nature?
“The clouds had given their all” - nature thinks that they’re are meant to be together, fate, nature tried hard to bring them together but have given up, shows that at one point the couple nearly gave up on their relationship, maybe for both it felt like the end of the relationship
“Show of tipping in unison.” - there’s a sense of unity and coming together, foreshadowing them healing, no matter what they are still one soul and are unified, nature is still showing signs of hope but in other ways, end stop showing that nature has done its job now it’s their turn to try and fix the relationship
“Icebergs of white weather” - obstacles in the way
Key quotes for tension?
“,Silent and apart,” - they aren’t willing to mend it, they’re far apart and want distance from eachother, but because they’re silent too shows that there is no attempt to fix it, nature has to take its cause
“They mate for life” - FIRST BIT OF DIALOGUE, shows that they want that and are open to the possibility of being together for the rest of time, tension there as that’s the only thing said and could be taken in a harsh tone
“Gulping for breath at our feet” - they’re trying to gasp for air but can’t find it, there’s no space to get it, they feel surrounded and not comfortable
Key quotes for peace?
“Our hands […] somehow, / swum the distance” - inevitable, bound to happen, they have no control it just happened, they were meant to be, “swum” is graceful and peaceful, shows that calmness is coming
“Like a pair of wings settling after flight.” - both wings are the same (both of them are the same), they are eachothers other halves, made for eachother, a flight can be rough but ultimately the wings will settle and come together (symbolic of the couple right now, gives hope), “settling” is very calming and peaceful (that’s where their relationship is headed)
What are the tones of winter swans?
Tense and painful to hopeful
What is the context of winter swans?
The collection deals with themes of separation, as exemplified by this raw poem about a man and a woman in the grip of relationship problems
What is the meaning and purpose of winter swans?
The poem describes a troubled couple walking around a lake after two days of heavy arguments
They are “silent and apart” until they are captivated by the sight of two swans on the lake
The swans become a metaphor for companionship, commitment and longevity (“They mate for life”), and inspire reconciliation between the couple
Inspired by nature, the couple’s problems begin to heal by the end of the poem
What is the form and structure of winter swans?
Organised in three-line stanzas which have no rhythm nor rhyme: this reflects the turbulent nature of their relationship
Final stanza is a couplet: the unbalanced three line stanzas are now replaced by a balance and harmony - a couplet also traditionally represents a conclusion
