13.1.2
Themes
Nature in Winter Swans
Nature in Winter Swans
Sheers uses images from the natural world throughout the poem as a way of representing the couple's relationship.
Pathetic fallacy
Pathetic fallacy
- The opening of the poem uses pathetic fallacy as Sheers sets a scene in which there had been a storm and 'rain for two days'.
- This may reflect the negative state of the couple’s relationship before this walk.
Setting
Setting
- The setting of the lake and their winter walk are both used as sources of similes and metaphor for their relationship.
- They ‘skirt’ the lake, like they avoid the problems in their relationships.
- The swans are ‘like boats righting in rough weather’, which hints at the coming reconciliation (making up) of the couple’s relationship.
Reconciliation in Winter Swans
Reconciliation in Winter Swans
One of the key themes of Winter Swans is the gradual reconciliation of the estranged lovers over the course of the poem.
Collective pronouns
Collective pronouns
- The poem largely uses collective pronouns throughout. For example:
- 'we walked'.
- 'the swans came and stopped us'
- This shows that, although the couple are estranged, they are still connected and together - this is merely a blip in their relationship.
Turning point
Turning point
- There is only one moment of direct speech when one of the pair states: ‘They mate for life’.
- This acts as a turning point in the poem, as the couple realise that they still care for each other. Watching the unity of the swans has helped to reunite them.
Reconciled?
Reconciled?
- The pair are ‘silent and apart’ at the beginning.
- But by the end, their hands have ‘swum the distance between [them]’ without them even realising it.
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
Jump to other topics
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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