This document provides analysis of the poem "Winter Swans" by Owen Sheers. It examines various poetic devices, imagery, structure, tone, and context. The analysis suggests the poem depicts a complicated relationship between a couple that has weathered difficulties but is now reconciled, as represented by the swans swimming together in winter. Imagery of water, clouds, and hands mirror the depth and turmoil and later calm of the relationship. The structure moves from a sense of isolation to cooperation, paralleling the narrative arc of the couple's relationship.

1. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –Winter Swans P.20
Poetic devices and their effects – form
(ballad,sonnet,free verse, dramatic monologue),
alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia,
Free verse Suggeststhe complicatedandunorganisednature
of theirrelationship –lackof organisation.
The slow sibilance of ‘slow-steppinginthe lake’s
shingle andsand’
There isa sense of peace andrelaxationatthis
point,whichsuggeststhe move backtoease in
theirrelationshipandreconciliation.
Juxtapositionof theirdistance asacouple andthe
togethernessof the swans
Showcasesthe issue of humanshavingcomplex,
difficultrelationshipsinoppositiontothe
straightforwardnature of the relationshipsin
nature.
Language and its effects – what sortof words
are in the poem? Violent, loving, colloquial,archaic,
semantic fields,diction,religious,romantic language
Dialogue of ‘Theymate forlife’ Reiteratestheircommitmenttoeachother.
Showsthat love canand shouldbe forever.
Language of swimming–‘gulping’ ’tipping’‘swum’ Sense of drama andsuddennessatthe start –
gaspingforbreathcouldreflectthe desperate
nature of theirrelationship.The gentle nature of
tippingisagaincarefree andfunand theirhands
mirrorthe swimmingof the swans.
Contrastof lightanddark – ‘darkwater’and
‘afternoonlight’
Sense of the depthsof a relationshipwhenthings
can get sinisterandangryinoppositiontothe
brightnessthattheymove intoastheyreconcile
throughthismomentaboutthe swans
Alternative interpretations – Can quotations
be read in two ways for different meanings?
The waterloggedearth Could be the muddiness oftheir relationship. The sticky
nature ofthe arguments or it could be waterlogged from the
tears ofbothor one ofthem – the emotional torment
Gulpingforbreath Theirrelationshipisonitslastlegs,drowning. Or
theyare fightingforitssurvival.
Icebergsof white feather Theyboth have hiddendepthsthatthe other
doesn’tunderstandortheybothcan cause
damage to one another
Structure and its effects – tonal shifts,pace,
caesura,whatrhyme stresses,beginning, middle,end,
repetition,dialogue and where it happens,enjambment
Starts off witha sense of stasis – cloudshaven
giventheirall.Swansinthe middle actinunison
but rightthemselvesafterbeingominously
underwater.The slowmovementsof the hands
back towardseach other
Narrative of problem –complication –resolution
Sense of wrongshavingbeenrighted

2. PLASTICPoetryNotes – GCSE EnglishLiterature PastandPresent:PoetryAnthology –Love andRelationships –Winter Swans P.20
Caesuraof ‘stillingwater.’ Allowsthe momenttosettle andresonantasthey
enjoyingthe majestyof theseswans
Tone and its effects – talking aboutmoods
which are evoked and where, narrative voice
Silentandapart Sense of isolation,fraughtand separated
‘Theyhalvedthemselvesinthe darkwater,
icebergs’
Sinistertone –plungingalone intothe deep,
hiddendepthsthatcouldhurtor destroy.
Gentle tone of the ‘wingssettlingafterflight’ Sense of co-operation.Sense of peace.Sense of
calm at the end.In contrastto the rainand clouds
of the start
Imagery and its effects - metaphor,simile,
personification,visual sense
Metaphor– cloudshad giventheirall Representsthe tempestuousrelationshipof the
couple whohadperhapsbeen arguing
Imagery– hands...swumthe distance..andfolded Sense of comingtogetherinco-operation.
Bridgingthe emotional gapbetweenthe twoof
them
Simile of boatsrightinginroughweather Comparisonsuggestingthe couple couldfix their
issuesafterthe ‘rain’.Theyhave the abilitytosort
themselves.
Waterloggedearth– Imagery Sense of beingboggeddown.The mudof their
relationshipissticky
Context – authorial,social and historical
OwenSheersisanaward-winningpoet,novelistandplaywright.InhispoetrySheersoftenwrites
aboutplaces,landscapesandthe people wholiveinthem.Hisworkexploreshistory,identityand
relationshipsandhe likestoexplore the difficultiespeopleface insimplytryingtolive.