Page 27 - Grasp English C1 (Student Book)

Lıterature 2

2.1
C. Listen to two literature students discussing a poem and answer the questions.

To Mary – John Clare

I sleep with thee, and wake with thee,
And yet thou art not there;
I fill my arms with thoughts of thee,

And press the common air.
Thy eyes are gazing upon mine,
When thou art out of sight;
My lips are always touching thine,
At morning, noon, and night.

I think and speak of other things
To keep my mind at rest:

But still to thee my memory clings
Like love in woman’s breast.
I hide it from the world’s wide eye, D. Read the poem and make notes on the literary devices
used.
And think and speak contrary;
But soft the wind comes from the sky,
Stanza and line length
And whispers tales of Mary. (in syllables)

Rhythm
The night wind whispers in my ear,
The moon shines in my face; Rhyme
A burden still of chilling fear
I find in every place. Use of metaphor

The breeze is whispering in the bush,
Use of simile
And the dews fall from the tree,
All sighing on, and will not hush, Use of personification
Some pleasant tales of thee.
Use of onomatopoeia

2.2
E. Listen and check your ideas. Can you find any other figurative language in the poem?

F. In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Why do you think the writer refers to nature, for example, the moon, wind, breeze and dew?
2. What do you learn about the writer in this poem?
3. Do you learn anything about Mary? Do you think she and the writer feel the same way
about each other?
4. The poem uses short words and is easy to read. What is the effect of this?
5. Do you think the poem is happy or sad? What other emotions does the writer evoke?

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