A level poem summary sheet on 'White Roses by Gillian Clarke' including notes on stanza by stanza analysis, form, structure, techniques, themes and overviews. Perfect for A level revision of Gillian Clarke poetry or perfect even for templates on how to analyse poetry.
CONTENT: This poem is written from the perspective of the carer of a little boy who is ill and
the way in which this little boy dies so quickly from his illness that white roses outlive him.
She looks at death and the sad reality that life continues with or without someone there.
THEME: Death, Human Mortality/Weakness, Nature
Key points for essay:
Human life is fragile and delicate –
o ‘Boy who sleeps in my care’ – image of boy as helpless and dependent
o ‘Stick man in the ashes’ – empty and a silhouette, lack of flesh and protection
he is exposed.
o ‘Gather his cat to his bones’ & ‘kneading with diamond paws’
o ‘He is spars and springs’ – very delicate and can be easily broken.
o ‘rose outlives the child’ – the child is more delicate and fragile than rose
which was compare to fine china
Human life can be painful and full of suffering –
o ‘Within the boy…Cold bloom opens at terrible speed’ connotation of cold
and use of terrible
o ‘Splinter of ice moves/ In his blood’ enjambment of line, ice splinter showing
pain and the story of the boy in the fairy story with the Ice Queen’s splinter
moving towards his heart, medical effects of cold blood
o ‘Gritting his teeth in silence on pains red blaze’ – pain, discomfort, pain as a
fire burning connotations of fire – destruction.
Human life has little effect on nature –
o ‘sun carelessly shines through’ ‘after rain’ - repetition of this phrase
emphasises that rain continues whether or not the boy is alive and
consistency of the natural world.
o ‘cat tracks thrushes in sweet dark soil’ comparison of soil to the boy.
o ‘without concern the rose outlives the child’
o Personification/pathetic fallacy of nature shows harsh reality of the tendency
of life to continue after death remaining relatively unchanged
STANZA BY STANZA ANALYSIS:
1ST Stanza:
From the scenic description of lines 1&2 we can imply that it is Spring, possibly the rain
could be from the April showers. The White roses are presented as delicate and fragile ‘link
fine china’. Holding ‘water and sunlight’ emphasises the beauty and warmth that they
radiate and how they are endued with all the necessities they need for survival – in good
health.
2nd Stanza:
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 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 chaela1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.56. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
