Wedding-Wind Flashcards
(20 cards)
What does the title convey?
The use of pathetic fallacy and the motif of nature conveys a powerful, elemental change of identity
What does the repetition of ‘my’ in the first two lines show?
Repetition implies a sense of pride as she does not accept her new identity
What is shown by the speakers wedding night being ‘of the high wind’
Extended metaphor of wind shows a violent, chaotic, and disordered change
What technique is used in “the stable door was banging”?
Onomatopoeia with sexual/violent connotations
Why is enjambment used during “leaving me// Stupid in candlelight?
Enjambment portrays the speakers isolation and desertion
Where is the caesura of the poem?
Leaving me// Stupid in candlelight
Why does Larkin use oppressive connotations in the line “stupid in candlelight”?
To reverse the romantic connotations associated with wedding nights
What is meant when the speaker says “seeing my face in the twisted candlestick”?
Emphasises the speakers warped identity as they struggle to recognise themselves
Why does the speaker say “That any man or beast should lack// The happiness I had” ?
The simplicity conveys that she is pretending to be happy or may be confused about her feelings
What is shown through the short- line length of “The happiness I had.” ?
Short-line length shows that the speakers happiness was also short-lived
Why is the line “The happiness I had” in past-tense?
Past-tense shows signs of regret
Will technique is used in “the winds blowing”
Extended metaphor of wind and pathetic fallacy may be conveying the speakers anger/ sadness/ confusion
Why does Larkin use pastoral imagery in the line “the chicken-run”?
Typical of Hardy who, despite not being part of the romantics, was influenced by the romanticism movement- a movement Larkin rejects
What technique is used in “All is the wind”?
Extended metaphor of wind shows
Extended metaphor of wind
What technique is used in the line “like a thread”?
Use of simile and abstract language shows a sense of reflection and pondering
Why does the speaker say “now this perpetual morning shares my bed”?
This cliche phrase and Larkin’s use of personification conveys the robotic monotony of marriage
Why does the poem end on the line “Our kneeling as cattle by all-generous waters”
Shows the speakers dehumanisation as they have finally been stripped of their identity and conformed to societies expectations of marriage
What is the relevant context of the poem?
Despite his many relationships, Larkin remained unmarried and childless. He was known to repeatedly criticise marriage even describing his parents marriage as “bloody hell”
