When We Two Parted by Lord Byron Flashcards
What sort of relationship is presented in the poem? Did people know about it?
Romantic love- but was a secret from the rest of society
“in silence and tears”. Repeated, silence suggests secrecy and their hidden love
How does the speaker feel?
“In silence I grieve”
“Half broken hearted”
The speaker is emotional about the death of their love, however “half hearted” shows it was a one sided relationship and she didn’t show the love back
What happened to the women’s reputation?
Her reputation is damaged from it, because she is well known and he is looked down on in society
Why does the speaker feel betrayed?
“The vows are all broken”
The relationship has ended and feels betrayed that she is already over it
What is the overall mood of the poem?
Melancholy, sad, broken hearted
Through the use of language, death like imagery to highlight loss and pain, sensory imagery
“In silence and tears”
“With silence and tears”
Repetition from stanza 1 emphasises secrecy and sorrow, he is incapable of moving on
Silence shows that he can’t express his hurt and upset and he is trapped within his own sadness -sympathy towards him
When two parted
Opening line
Addresses the former lover, make the poem seem more personal.
Contrasts with “they” hints at bond between lover and him
“Half broken hearted”
Could suggest that they weren’t properly in love OR that his love was real yet her’s wasn’t leaving him incomplete and angered at his lover.
“Pale grew thy cheek and cold,”
Describes his lover like a corpse suggesting the love for him has died
“Pale grew” suggests that it was over time and wasn’t instant, implying the pain has been never ending and slow
“Cheek…cold…colder…kiss”
Repetition of harsh ‘k’ sound emphasises the coldness of their love now
“That hour foretold
Sorrow to this”
Enjambment emphasises the link between past and present- showing that his sorrow is ongoing
“The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow-“
“Chill” cold dew on the narrators forehead reflects the coldness between him and his lover
“Sunk” has connotations of failure and sunken ships suggesting that their love is sunken and dead
Also suggests that a day without her makes him feel alone and lost
“They vows are all broken
And light is thy fame;”
“Broken” links to the broken heart in stanza 1
Repetition of it reminds the reader of his traumatic experience with love- builds sympathy
“Light is thy fame” her reputation is damaged because people know if her affairs
“Light” suggests weak and flimsy
“Vows are all broken” going against god as they have broken a covenant with god-paints her in a bad light
“I hear thy name spoken”
“They name thee before me,”
Hears people talking about the affair his former lover is having and it causes him pain
Hearing her name causes him pain increase the sympathy as someone’s name is so simple
“A knell to mine ear;”
Metaphor suggests that her name sounds like a death knell to him-it reminds him of the death of their relationship and the rising is everlasting
