- When We Two Parted -

Key Themes

• Grief over heartbreak

  “Pale grew thy cheek and cold, colder thy kiss”

  • imagery of pale and coldness, inferring death which represents the death of their love/ relationship

  • comparative emphasising that their love grew colder, showing the loss of affection

  “ A knell in mine ear”

  • the sound of a bell rung signifying a death in a funeral, which symbolises the death of their relationship, again using the imagery of death

  “ In secret we met — In silence I grieve”

  • a difference in pronouns suggest that the grief is one-sided and how only he is affected

  • Use of anaphora, describes their relationship

  • secret relationship so he grieves in silence

• Despair/ hopelessness

  “Thy”

  • repetition of thy shows his attachment to her

  • direct address to his lover, however she will also be absent so it is pointless and nothing can be done to change what has already happened

• Lack of progress

  “In silence and tears” & “With silence and tears”

  • Cyclical structure shows no change and emphasises his struggle to move on and how he is trapped in grief and misery

  • The past reflects the future, no resolution

  • Has a tone of sadness, emotional

  “Consistent structure” shows no change in feelings

• Resentment

  “Why wert thou so dear?”

  • Rhetorical question suggesting a tone of confusion and frustration, building up to become resentment

  His lack of change means that his resentment will also last

• Futility