Interview
Notes on 8 poems in GCSE Edexcel love and relationships poetry anthology
Detailed notes suitable for students aiming for a grade 9 in GCSE English Literature.
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Winter setting - the withering of nature could reflect the degradation of the relationship. Constant repetition of and - could show vented anger seeping out and frustration.
More anger is shown through phrases such as 'god-curst sun'.
'Alive enough to have the strength to die' - this antithesis could either show the confusion of
the speaker or it could also suggest anger and resentment towards the other person.
The stillness and lack of colour in nature could be conjured by the narrator or it could be a
sign of the indifference nature has to the emotional turmoil of the poet.
This spiteful view of former love could be cautionary - it shows how love causes people to
risk painful loss and estrangement and that it could be inherently deceptive.
The bleak outlook on love is further highlighted through the choice of setting - a pond may
be a romantic scene but here it is overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of decay and
lifelessness.
A complaint
Context - this poem could be about the poet's falling out with a close friend.
It is not an explosive parting, instead the friends only gradually drift apart.
The movement of water is used to portray love - it is initially energetic and passionate like a
'fountain' but eventually slows down and becomes stagnant like water in a 'well'.
Love can be interpreted from this poem as a type of wealth, which makes the poet feel more
empty when it is lost.
This is supported through a semantic of wealth - 'I am poor', 'fountain' may have been a
stereotypical image of wealth for the poet's contemporaries.
The fountain could also be linked with life, as many used them to get essential water.
The pain which the poet feels may not be the absence of love but the lingering memory of
what it used to be.
This is especially highlighted in the juxtaposition between the 1st and 3rd stanzas.
The poet is not satisfied with a quiet relationship like the water hidden underneath the well
but would rather have a more energetic relationship more like the water in a public
fountain.
The imagery of water could also suggest that relationships are dynamic and always change.
This is further emphasised through the personification of the water in the fountain -
'murmuring, sparkling, living'.
Agitation is shown through caesura in the first line.
Constant iambic tetrameter and constant rhyme scheme, possibly hinting towards eventual
reconciliation?
More chance of reconciliation as the water of love still exists but 'sleeps in silence and
obscurity'.
Could argue against this - the writer starts 'poor' and ends 'poor' - cyclical structure.
Extensive use of caesura later in the poem - could show further agitation of the loss or
uncertainty or could show emotional disruption.
'consecrated' - this religious word could further strengthen our perception of the previous
friendship.
Confusion shown through the use of rhetorical questions - 'What have I? shall I dare to tell?'
This poem overall shows the value and benefits of a healthy relationship and could suggest
that it is as vital as the water being provided by the fountain.
Sonnet 43
Written by a female poet and was supposedly part of a collection of Portuguese poems in
order to get them published.
, It is a love sonnet to the poet's husband.
The sonnet is traditionally associated with romantic love.
Slightly more immature tone - 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!' - could show
overwhelming passion she has for her soon to be husband.
The very extensive use of religious imagery - 'Ideal Grace', 'soul', 'faith' could have been used
to exemplify the extent of the poet's love.
It could also show the poet's view on romantic love as being similar to love for God.
The love can be counted, which suggests that it is not immediately quantifiable and covers
all 3 dimensions, showing how all-encompassing it is through the spatial imagery.
But the love can be measured through physical means, suggesting the groundedness and
rationality of the love.
The poem can be interpreted as presenting love as something that is eternal, even able to
transcend death.
However, the poet is also firmly grounded, naming how she will love her husband physically
and devote her 'breath', 'smiles' and 'tears'.
Anaphora of 'I love thee' clearly shows the enthusiasm the poet has.
Love is more grounded and rational in this poem, which is shown through the strict bonding
to the sonnet structure.
Extensive light imagery, could show how vital love is to the poet.
Love is presented as similar or even identical to religious devotion.
No rhyming couplet at the end like a more usual sonnet, not as much closure.
This could suggest that love is everlasting without any closure, which further supports the
interpretation that love is eternal and able to transcend death.
Enjambement throughout the poem - accelerates the poem and accentuates her energy and
passion for the love she has towards the recipient.
Juxtaposition between 'daylight' form the day and 'candlelight' from the night could show
that the love is all-encompassing.
She walks in beauty
Byron was inspired by the looks of his cousin.
Reverence for nature, very typical for romantic poets.
Compares her beauty to that of the 'night' - associating beauty with celestial bodies - very
hyperbolic.
Very extensive sibilance - the drawn out sound exemplifies his fascination and admiration.
'best of dark and bright' - juxtaposition - shows that she has a balance of both aspects,
further emphasising her beauty.
The use of simile introduces more mystery and is slightly less conventional.
Enjambement - shows how enraptured Lord Byron is by his cousin.
'One shade the more, one ray the less' - antithesis shows the balance of the woman's
beauty.
'nameless grace' - the beauty cannot be articulated by the English language.
Very positive semantic - highlights the purity and goodness of the woman whilst
acknowledging her beauty.
The poem ends with the celebration of the woman's virtues and personality as opposed to
her appearance.
Stanzas are very consistent with an strong, unchanging rhyme scheme - this could show the
unwavering strength of the woman's beauty.
The physical harmony emanating from the woman is fragile and can be easily disrupted.
The beauty can be interpreted as a sort of divine grace, which further exemplifies the purity
and goodness of the woman.
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