As Imperceptibly As Grief

Question 1

‘Grief the summer lapsed away’

Answer 1

• ‘Grief’ - capitalisation shows the personification of grief, the only friend she has.
• ‘Summer lapsed away’ also capitalised, and is shown as untrustworthy.

Question 2

‘too imperceptible at last’

Answer 2

• ‘too imperceptible at last’ - perhaps she feels relief that summer has gone, or perhaps she’s so consumed with grief she barely notices

Question 3

‘To seem like perfidy’

Answer 3

• ‘Perfidy’ - capitalised - personification - could show that treachery and deceitfulness is something she’s well acquainted with.

Question 4

’ Or nature spending with herself sequestered Afternoon _’

Answer 4

• ‘Nature spending with herself sequestered Afternoon’ - personification and could show that Nature is selfish and mirrors Emily’s own feelings/needs

Question 5

‘The dusk grew earlier in -‘

Answer 5

‘The Dusk drew earlier in-‘ - alliteration, the ‘d’ sound is quite heavy perhaps like time going past for her. The dash shows that she’s trying to stop it moving on. Also, this creates an impression of change and the waning of life in her life.

Question 6

‘A courteous yet harrowing grace’

Answer 6

• A courteous, yet harrowing Grace’ - oxymoron between harrowing and Grace perhaps shows how she and the grief are opposing because she’s young and its summer and she should be happy

Question 7

‘As guest that would be gone’

Answer 7

• ‘As Guest, that would be gone-‘ - a person is a lifeline to the world for her as she’s secluded - dash shows the guest stays longer than they want to

Question 8

‘Without a wing’

Answer 8

Without a Wing’ - bird can’t fly without a wing, and time flies when having fun - gives the impression that she can’t have fun

Question 9

‘Into the beautiful’

Answer 9

• ‘Into the Beautiful’ - ends on a joyful tone, capitalisation suggests heaven and could imply she’s not scared to die anymore and accepts the passing of time