Understanding the poem 'The Farmer's Bride' by Charlotte Mew
I can understand how Mew presents a dysfunctional relationship
Understanding the poem 'The Farmer's Bride' by Charlotte Mew
I can understand how Mew presents a dysfunctional relationship
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The bride is forced to marry the farmer at a young age and is scared of her husband.
- The bride attempts to run away and then is chased and captured by a group of men.
- When the bride returns she is locked up by her husband and becomes reclusive.
- Despite her refusal to speak, the farmer still fantasises about his wife.
- Mew was writing at a time when women's position in society was often restrictive.
Common misconception
The farmer is simply trying to care for his wife, his actions are well-intentioned and innocent.
The farmer's attempts to care for his wife may initially seem genuine, but the poem suggests a deeper complexity to their relationship. The bride's evident distress and desire to escape challenge the notion of the farmer's benevolence.
Keywords
Autonomy - independence over one’s thoughts and actions
Suffrage - the right to vote- in the early 20th century women's suffrage was an important political issue
Dramatic monologue - a poem written in the form of a speech from an individual character
Dysfunctional - not operating properly; broken
Equipment
You will need a copy of 'The Farmer's Bride' by Charlotte Mew which can be found in the AQA 'Love and Relationships' Anthology and the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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