Understanding 'Winter Swans'
I can explain how Sheers presents a change in the speaker’s relationship.
Understanding 'Winter Swans'
I can explain how Sheers presents a change in the speaker’s relationship.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sheers depicts a relationship which is initially fragmented as the couple are physically and emotionally separated.
- By the end of the poem the couple have salvaged their relationship and are reunified.
- The inconsistent form followed by a final couplet could mirror the changing status of the relationship.
- The setting at the start of the poem reflects the couples despairing and hopeless emotions.
- The poem is from a wider collection entitled 'Skirrid Hill' which means 'shattered mountain'.
Common misconception
Form and structure are the same thing.
Form deals with the 'poetic rules' that govern a poem and helps us to categorise it along with other similar poems whereas structure deals with how the ideas in the poem are ordered and organised.
Keywords
Fragmented - broken into pieces; lacking togetherness or unity
Unified - formed or integrated into a whole; cohesive or combined
Hope - an optimistic expectation; a longing for a positive outcome
Despair - overwhelming sadness; a loss of hope
Salvageable - something that can be saved or repaired
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
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).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Broken into pieces; lacking togetherness or unity
Formed or integrated into a whole; cohesive or combined
An optimistic expectation; a longing for a positive outcome
Overwhelming sadness; a loss of hope
Something that can be saved or repaired