13.1.1
Summary, Structure & Form
Summary of Winter Swans
Summary of Winter Swans
Winter Swans is part of Owen Sheers' 2005 collection of poems called Skirrid Hill. Winter Swans explores the relationship of two estranged lovers through the visual metaphor of swans.
Skirrid
Skirrid
- Skirrid Hill is the area where Sheers is from in Wales.
- The word Skirrid also means ‘divorce’ or ‘separate’. This meaning is particularly relevant to this poem, which explores a turbulent (unstable) relationship.
Summary
Summary
- The speaker follows a couple on a walk around a lake after days of bad weather.
- They watch a pair of swans as they walk apart from each other, not speaking.
- As they watch the companionship of the swans, the mood of the poem changes as the two lovers come together again. They walk on to the end holding hands.
Estranged lovers
Estranged lovers
- Winter Swans is a powerfully understated (subtle) poem – it uses pathetic fallacy to subtly convey the turbulence (instability) of the couple’s relationship.
- Sheers explores a relationship in progress - not ending or beginning, but continuing - even though the poem depicts a potential breaking point in the relationship.
- He uses the simple scene of the swans ducking and diving as a symbol of unity. This scene reminds the couple of their love for each other.
Structure and Form in Winter Swans
Structure and Form in Winter Swans
Here are some key examples of structure and form in Owen Sheers' Winter Swans:
Structure
Structure
- The first 2 stanzas represent the couple’s separation.
- There is a turning point in stanza 3, in which the couple are brought together.
- The final two stanzas track the moments as the couple reunite.
Disjointed form
Disjointed form
- This poem is written in three line stanzas (tercets).
- Each one is uneven and has no rhyme scheme either.
- The poem is given a disjointed sense to reflect the couple’s separation.
- The final couplet signals the moment that they reunite.
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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