Winter Swans - Quotes + Context

Question 1

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “The clouds had _____ their ___.”

Answer 1

Given, all. The pathetic fallacy used shows how the speaker feels that perhaps God and the natural world are against him and that their relationship is in a bad set of circumstances.

Question 2

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “The __________ earth.”

Answer 2

Waterlogged. This could be a reference to Noah’s Ark and symbolise how God is not welcoming of their relationship.

Question 3

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “_______ and apart.”

Answer 3

Silent, this caesura further implies that the two are separated from each other and that they are not communicating with each other.

Question 4

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “They ______ themselves.”

Answer 4

Halved. This quotation indicates that the swans split apart and perhaps this is a metaphor for the two of them splitting apart from being one whole, as they were married.

Question 5

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “They ____ for ____.”

Answer 5

Mate, life. This is a representation of what their ideal relationship is like and shows a sense of desire for the, to be together again, but perhaps circumstances have made it difficult.

Question 6

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “____ the distance between us.”

Answer 6

Swum. This personification indicates that an external force brought them together and perhaps they’re meant to be together since their subconscious brought them together.

Question 7

Finish the quotation and explain its significance - “_______ after flight.”

Answer 7

Settling. This present participle verb indicates that their peace and reconciliation is perhaps only temporary and that their problems may continue.

Question 8

Where was Owen Sheers born and where did he grow up in?

Answer 8

Owen Sheers was born in Fiji but moved to Wales at a young age.

Question 9

What collection of poems is Winter Swans from and what is the significance of this?

Answer 9

It is from his collection called Skirrid Hill, which roughly translates as ‘distance’ perhaps symbolising the distance shown in the relationship.