1.1.3
Themes: Time & Anger
Significance of Time
Significance of Time
The narrator has a strong sense of time in this poem, emphasising that he cannot imagine not feeling this way. The foreshadowing throughout reminds us that the poem is written from the poet's current perspective.
Repetition - 'long, long'
Repetition - 'long, long'
- The repetition of 'long, long' in line 23 suggests he cannot imagine not feeling this way.
'Long years'
'Long years'
- At the end of the poem, the narrator imagines their reunion after 'long years'.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing
- The poem is also written from the poet’s perspective now – so it is filled with foreshadowing for the end of the poem.
- 'It felt like the warning' (line 11).
- 'Truly that hour foretold' (line 7).
Frustration and Anger
Frustration and Anger
The poem describes the end of a relationship, and focuses on the narrator’s feelings of bitterness, regret and loss. The poem also explores the narrator’s inability to share his pain, as the relationship was an illicit (forbidden) one.
Language of bitterness and anger
Language of bitterness and anger
- The narrator uses language of bitterness and anger towards his lover.
- 'Thy vows are all broken'.
- 'That thy heart could forget, / Thy spirit deceive'.
- 'Long, long shall I rue thee'.
- These lines build up a sense that the narrator is resentful of his lover, and feels that he has been unjustly rejected.
- His use of the word 'rue', meaning to bitterly regret, suggests that he feels that the relationship was not worth the intense pain he feels now.
Secrecy and frustration
Secrecy and frustration
- There is a clear sense of the secrecy of their relationship.
- 'In secret we met – In silence I grieve' (lines 25-26).
- This quote demonstrates the narrator’s frustration that he cannot share with others the nature of his pain.
1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
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1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
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