AQA English Literature Poems:
When We Two Parted by Lord Byron-
Summary of poem: The poem recalls the end of a previous relationship that the narrator
feels sad and regretful about. The relationship was secret and illicit, therefore ever since
the break-up, the narrator is unable to share his pain. By the end, the poet is looking to
the future but is incapable of seeing how he could ever feel any different to how he feels
now. The poem overall demonstrates the universal feeling of mourning after the loss of
a relationship. The poem demonstrates feelings of bitterness, regret, loss, shame and
longing.
Structure and Form - cyclical: the repetition of ‘silence and tears’ demonstrates the fact
that he hasn’t/ can’t move on.
Other structural features- hyphen in line 25 symbolises the years that have passed,
demonstrates the fact that he can’t move on from the breakup and his feelings are
never going to change.
The controlled nature of the poem gives a sense that the poet has thought carefully
about this response.
The poem has a rigid form with 8 line stanza with ABAB rhyming scheme which
juxtaposes the poet’s feelings of confusion and loss.
Key Quotes:
o When we two parted-
- Incomplete sentence shows the vagueness of the poem as the reader is left
to question who parted from whom; this could be foreshadowing the
vagueness and secretive relationship that the poet had.
- repeated in the first line of the poem, this reinforces the poets inability to
forget and move on.
‘WE’- shows it’s a personal poem and, is only used at the beginning of the
poem which signifies their separation as the poet only later uses individual
pronouns such as ‘me’, and ‘thee’.
o In silence and tears-
o This shows that they have nothing to say to each other, which hints that
the relationship has ended.
o Also shows the secretive relationship he had, no one is supposed to
know about it, that’s why it’s ‘silent’
o Violent verbs-
o ‘Rue’ and ‘sever’- this shows how deeply affected he is by the end of
their relationship; he found the relationship to be painful.
o Additionally, he bitterly regrets the relationship as it wasn’t worth the
immense pain he is feeling now.
o Death imagery-
o ‘Cold, colder thy kiss’- over the years she became cold and distant.
Contrasts the usual description of kisses- ‘burning’, ‘fiery’ and ‘blazing’-
which further marks the end if their relationship.
o The use of dark language is an effective, as it demonstrates the poets
exaggerated sense of loss.
o ‘A knell in my ear’- knell is a funeral bell which additionally emphasises
the death of their relationship. Even the sound of his lovers name
When We Two Parted by Lord Byron-
Summary of poem: The poem recalls the end of a previous relationship that the narrator
feels sad and regretful about. The relationship was secret and illicit, therefore ever since
the break-up, the narrator is unable to share his pain. By the end, the poet is looking to
the future but is incapable of seeing how he could ever feel any different to how he feels
now. The poem overall demonstrates the universal feeling of mourning after the loss of
a relationship. The poem demonstrates feelings of bitterness, regret, loss, shame and
longing.
Structure and Form - cyclical: the repetition of ‘silence and tears’ demonstrates the fact
that he hasn’t/ can’t move on.
Other structural features- hyphen in line 25 symbolises the years that have passed,
demonstrates the fact that he can’t move on from the breakup and his feelings are
never going to change.
The controlled nature of the poem gives a sense that the poet has thought carefully
about this response.
The poem has a rigid form with 8 line stanza with ABAB rhyming scheme which
juxtaposes the poet’s feelings of confusion and loss.
Key Quotes:
o When we two parted-
- Incomplete sentence shows the vagueness of the poem as the reader is left
to question who parted from whom; this could be foreshadowing the
vagueness and secretive relationship that the poet had.
- repeated in the first line of the poem, this reinforces the poets inability to
forget and move on.
‘WE’- shows it’s a personal poem and, is only used at the beginning of the
poem which signifies their separation as the poet only later uses individual
pronouns such as ‘me’, and ‘thee’.
o In silence and tears-
o This shows that they have nothing to say to each other, which hints that
the relationship has ended.
o Also shows the secretive relationship he had, no one is supposed to
know about it, that’s why it’s ‘silent’
o Violent verbs-
o ‘Rue’ and ‘sever’- this shows how deeply affected he is by the end of
their relationship; he found the relationship to be painful.
o Additionally, he bitterly regrets the relationship as it wasn’t worth the
immense pain he is feeling now.
o Death imagery-
o ‘Cold, colder thy kiss’- over the years she became cold and distant.
Contrasts the usual description of kisses- ‘burning’, ‘fiery’ and ‘blazing’-
which further marks the end if their relationship.
o The use of dark language is an effective, as it demonstrates the poets
exaggerated sense of loss.
o ‘A knell in my ear’- knell is a funeral bell which additionally emphasises
the death of their relationship. Even the sound of his lovers name
