Various Notes
The alalysis of poem «March» by Edward Thomas
The poem 'March', as the most of Thomas's poems describes the state of nature. The mood of March days is briefly described through subtle details such as behavior of birds and plants and weather changes (from snow and rain to warmth and sunshine).
In terms of structure and verse form, the poem isn’t divided into separate stanzas, but it can be logically parceled out in three parts. The first part (from the beginning to the line “As if the mighty sun wept tears of joy”) depicts the first signs of coming spring that is ousting the winter. The second part (from “But ‘twas too late for warmth. The sunset piled” to “Had kept them quiet as the primroses”) recalls that “yet ‘twas cold” and that winter is still here. In the last part (from “They had but and hour to sing. On boughs they sang, ” to the end) author returns to the idea of the arrival of spring, finishing the poem with the hope that “Spring returns, perhaps tomorrow”.
The metre of the poem is iambic pentameter, thus the number of syllables differs from line to line, which sounds very natural and creates a feeling that the writer is talking to you. The use of blind rhyme further enhances this effect.
In the first part of the poem writer personifies the sun (“As if the mighty sun wept tears of joy”), opposing the sun to cold and dead winter. The idea of death is traced throughout the poem. At the very end of the poem Thomas uses different connotations of death, such as “silence” and “darkness”, as if winter is holding back the start of spring and the new life. Also, author is using antonyms as “sang or screamed”, “hoarse or sweet or fierce or soft” to emphasize the contract of spring and winter. Using alliteration (“they sang, on gates, on ground they sang”) and assonance (“hoard of song before the moon”). adds sonority and dynamic to the poem and helps to create an imitation of birdsong. As well, describing winter, writer resorts to the use of metaphor
The poem 'March', as the most of Thomas's poems describes the state of nature. The mood of March days is briefly described through subtle details such as behavior of birds and plants and weather changes (from snow and rain to warmth and sunshine).
In terms of structure and verse form, the poem isn’t divided into separate stanzas, but it can be logically parceled out in three parts. The first part (from the beginning to the line “As if the mighty sun wept tears of joy”) depicts the first signs of coming spring that is ousting the winter. The second part (from “But ‘twas too late for warmth. The sunset piled” to “Had kept them quiet as the primroses”) recalls that “yet ‘twas cold” and that winter is still here. In the last part (from “They had but and hour to sing. On boughs they sang, ” to the end) author returns to the idea of the arrival of spring, finishing the poem with the hope that “Spring returns, perhaps tomorrow”.
The metre of the poem is iambic pentameter, thus the number of syllables differs from line to line, which sounds very natural and creates a feeling that the writer is talking to you. The use of blind rhyme further enhances this effect.
In the first part of the poem writer personifies the sun (“As if the mighty sun wept tears of joy”), opposing the sun to cold and dead winter. The idea of death is traced throughout the poem. At the very end of the poem Thomas uses different connotations of death, such as “silence” and “darkness”, as if winter is holding back the start of spring and the new life. Also, author is using antonyms as “sang or screamed”, “hoarse or sweet or fierce or soft” to emphasize the contract of spring and winter. Using alliteration (“they sang, on gates, on ground they sang”) and assonance (“hoard of song before the moon”). adds sonority and dynamic to the poem and helps to create an imitation of birdsong. As well, describing winter, writer resorts to the use of metaphor