‘They Flee from Me’ It implies that she so badly wanted
to be with him that she was
Thomas Wyatt
prepared to take risks.
1. They flee from me, that sometime did me seek,
2. With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.
3. I have seen them, gentle, tame, and meek,
4. That now are wild, and do not remember Line 21:
5. That sometime they put themself in danger
6. To take bread at my hand; and now they range, The diction in this line highlights
7. Busily seeking with a continual change. the speaker’s viewpoint in the
poem:
8. Thanked be Fortune it hath been otherwise, It is significant that the poet is
9. Twenty times better; but once in special,
concerned here about what the
10. In thin array, after a pleasant guise,
11. When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall, women ‘deserve’. This highlights
12. And she me caught in her arms long and small, the unfairness of his treatment at
13. And therewith all sweetly did me kiss
He is happy that he experienced the hands of these women
14. And softly said, ‘Dear heart, how like you this?’
what he did, and grateful. The tone which galls him. He has been
expresses this, in contrast to the final
15. It was no dream, I lay broad waking. nothing but kind and
stanza, where he is bitter and
16. But all is turned, thorough my gentleness, gentlemanly in his relationships
resentful.
17. Into a strange fashion of forsaking;
The contrast between what he is with them but in turn he has
18. And I have leave to go, of her goodness,
feeling now with what he felt then is 19. And she also to use newfangleness. been abandoned. They seem to
so great that the past might seem 20. But since that I so kindly am served, get away with it and feel
like a dream, too good to be true. 21. I fain would know what she hath deserved.
He is convincing himself and his nothing while he is left with a
listener/reader that these things sense of loss and betrayal. SACAI
really did happen.
JUNE 2022
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ansiestudynotes. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.71. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.