8.1.2
Themes
Natural Imagery
Natural Imagery
Throughout the poem Lewis uses images from the natural world to show the transition in his relationship with his son.
Pathetic fallacy
Pathetic fallacy
- The poem begins with pathetic fallacy, as the ‘leaves just turning’, suggesting transition of the season.
- This reflects the state of transition the father is witnessing in his son, and the changing nature of their relationship.
Simile
Simile
- Lewis also uses natural imagery as metaphor for the natural process of growing up and letting go.
- For example, ‘like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem’ is a powerful simile that embodies the sense of loss Lewis feels but also the inevitability of the process of growing up.
Separation in Walking Away
Separation in Walking Away
Lewis' poem explores the feelings of a parent as he realises that he must allow his son to move on and grow up. Here are some examples of how he develops that theme in the poem.
Abrupt verbs
Abrupt verbs
- The narrator’s use of abrupt verbs such as ‘wrenched’, ‘scorching’ and ‘gnaws' helps to describe the process of growing up.
- There is a sense that the father is struggling to let go of his son, yet knows he must in order to let him grow up.
- These verbs show how painful the process is, despite its necessity.
Repetition
Repetition
- The word ‘away’ is repeated throughout the poem, which emphasises their separation
- Lewis' use of the phrases, ‘loosened from', ‘set free’, and ‘wrenched from’, also helps show the process of separation as his son grows up.
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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