BeenyCliff

1.Introducethesubjectmatter:
BeenyCliffwaswhereHardywentwithhiswifeintheearlydaysoftheir
marriageheusesthisyouthfulmemorytoreflectonhispresentstate(following
herdeath)andtofindclosure
Unlikehisotherpoemsallthememoriesarepositivesuggestshehasmovedpast
thepointofguiltandtowardsacceptingEmmasdeath
2.Introducesomeformalelementseg.rhyme,structure
first3above
3indicatesomethinggoingwrongfuture.
5stanzasofthreerhyminglineswithaconsistentrhythmincomparisontohis
otherpoems(eg.CastleBoterel)flowsquitesmoothly(versusCastleBoterel
whichhasmoreabruptpausesandenjambment)toreflecthisreformedstateof
being
3.Introducethethemes:
thetranscendentalpowerofnatureheusesnatureasametaphortoconvey(this
romanticuseofimageryservestoaggrandizehispastwithEmma)
o Emmasmythicalpower:
Otheopalandthesapphireofthatwanderingwesternsea,And
preciousstones,colourimageryofblueassociatedwith:truth,trust
andloyalty:idealqualitiesforarelationship,alliteration:
expansiveness
thewomanridinghighabovewithbrighthairflappingfree
allusiontoLadyGodiva(writenarrative)presentsherasaniconic
symboloffemininepower,fricatives:carefreeyouthfulimage.
Definitearticlethepartofpresentingherasadeity/mythical
being
o idealisetheearlydaysoftheirrelationship
thepalemewsplainedbelowus,andthewavesseemedfaraway
pastcontinuoustensetolanguage:positioningthereaderinhis
pastmemory,heavenlyimagery(causethebirdsarebelowthem),
assonance:serenityoftheoceanmultisensorypoem
welaughedlightheartedlyaloftonthatclearsunnedMarchday
alliterationagain:consistencyofsoundreflectsthestabilitythey
perceivedintheirrelationshipatthattime.Patheticfallacy
summer=happiness.

theimpermanenceofloverelatetotheeternalnatureofthelandscape(this
realistuseofreflectionshowshisprocessofgrowth)
o concedesthatlovecanneverbewhollyserene,itischaracterizedby
imperfections
alittlecloudthencloakedus,andthereflewanirisedrain
personification,cloaked:allconsuming
andtheAtlanticdyeditslevelswithafullmisfeaturedstain:
polysyndetonbuildsonthenegativityofthestanza,stain
suggestspermanence

andthenthesunburstoutagain,andthepurplesprinkedthe
mainthesereneblueimageryisnowcomplementedbyaviolent
undercurrent.Theenergyofpurpleversusblue.(colourimagery).
Plosivesp,b,activeverbburstcontraststothepast
continuous/stabletoneoftheearlierstanzas
o finalreflectiononthepermanenceofhermortality:
AndshallsheandInotgothereonceagainnowMarchisnigh
separationofsheandIincomparisontoearlieruseof
us,tensetransitiontopresent,languageisfarmoreblunt:
notdescriptiveanymore
thewomannowiselsewherewhomtheamblingponybore
dashesoneitherside:hesitationshowsacceptance
nolongerasmythicalandamazingpony
norknowsnorcaresforBeeny,andwilllaughnevermore
syntacticalemphasisonnevermore:givestheendofthe
poemadefiniteconclusion
4.Conclusion
purposeofthepoem:toshowHardygainingasenseofperspectiveandclosure
relatingtoEmmasdeaththewayheachievesthisisbyaggrandizingtheir
memoriesandherexistencewhichthenleadshimtorealizethefutilityon
dwellingonsuchapast