Winter Swans

Question 1

Author:

Answer 1

Sheers

Question 2

‘Two days of rain’

• NATURE
• DISTANCE

Answer 2

Pathetic fallacy - rain is a metaphor for tears, lovers had a quarrel - hence in the next stanza they are ‘silent and apart - walk is the beginning of their reconciliation.

Question 3

‘The waterlogged earth gulping for breath at our feet as we skirted the lake, silent and apart’

• NATURE
• DISTANCE

Answer 3

Stanza implies ‘clogged up’ emotions to match the waterlogged ground - earth fights for breath as do lovers, unable to find words or speak openly.
Alliterative ‘g’ in ‘waterlogged’ and ‘gulping’ convey inability to speak, like a stammer.
‘Skirted the lake’ suggests keeping distance, avoiding issues.

Question 4

‘They halved themselves in the dark water, icebergs of white feather’

• NATURE
• DISTANCE

Answer 4

These lines suggests lots hidden below the surface- swans seek food, but humans mask their feelings.
The scene is chilly, with ‘dark’ water to convey negative emotions and icebergs to suggests cold and submerged danger.
‘White feather’ has complex associations; death of a loved one and cowardice during the World War One. It could imply couple also cowards in not facing problems in relationship or ending of relationship.

Question 5

‘Slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand, I noticed our hands had somehow, swum the distance between us’

• NATURE
• DISTANCE

Answer 5

Couple clearly feel able to walk on what must be rough shingle and sand - able to continue through hardships in relationship. ‘Slow-stepping’ suggests walking, like their relationship, is still precarious.
Alliterative ’s’s imitate the sound of their shoes.
The joining of hands - metaphor for healing in their relationship, hands crossed physical and metaphorical distance between them.

Question 6

Final couplet

- FULFILMENT

Answer 6

To end with a final couplet brings resolution and completeness.
No longer two separate people, but united.
Measure of uncertainty, as if reconciliation is so delicate that ultimately this relationship is doomed to fail.

Question 7

Compare with:

Answer 7

Sonnet 29 - physical and emotional distance between lovers
Singh Song - fulfilling relationships
Letters From Yorkshire - nature