Winter: My Secret

Feminist perspective

• Supposed to be chased as in the poem. Purity and chastity

• Keeping secret in control over own voice

Themes

Identity, nonsense, curiosity

Feminist perspective

• Supposed to be chased as in the poem. Purity and chastity

• Keeping secret in control over own voice

Themes

Identity, nonsense, curiosity

“I” beginning and end of first line

Secret is contained within herself. Ownership over secret as no one allowed in

“Winter”

Show conceals secret

“Froze, and blows, and shows”

Internal rhyme. Emphasises cold

“nipping day, a biting day”

Violence of cold air. The lengths she would go to keep the secret

“Shawl, a veil, a cloak, and other wraps”

Covering, layering up, hiding

“I cannot ope to every one who taps”

Can’t tell all who ask. Door c/r Shut Out, Echo, Uphill. House is keeping the secret safe

“who ever shows His nose to Russian snows”

• Triple and enjambment speed up poem

• Internal rhyme and sibilance = bitter

“Spring’s an expansive time”

Growing. New beginnings. Possibly may expand her secret in the spring

“Or you may guess”

Playful