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A Marriage by R.S. Thomas: An In-Depth Analysis
"A Marriage" by R.S. Thomas is a profound exploration of love, time, and mortality. This single-stanza poem of 21 lines captures the entirety of a couple's life together, from their first meeting to their final parting.
The poem opens with a vivid image of the couple's first encounter: "We met / under a shower / of bird-notes." This metaphor sets the tone for the poem's recurring bird imagery and establishes a connection between the couple's love and the natural world.
Highlight: The use of bird imagery throughout the poem symbolizes freedom, grace, and the fleeting nature of life.
As the poem progresses, it swiftly moves through time, reflecting on fifty years of marriage. The line "Fifty years passed, / love's moment" encapsulates the paradoxical nature of time in love โ a lifetime together feels like just a moment.
Quote: "She was young; I kissed with my eyes / closed and opened / them on her wrinkles."
This poignant line illustrates the passage of time and the enduring nature of love. The speaker's perception of his wife remains unchanged despite the physical signs of aging.
The poem's structure, with its use of enjambment and flowing lines, mirrors the quick passage of time. This technique allows the poem to cover a lifetime in just a few short lines, emphasizing how swiftly life passes.
Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.
As the poem reaches its conclusion, it introduces the theme of death. Death is personified, inviting the wife to "the last dance." This metaphor creates a parallel with the couple's first meeting, bookending their life together with dance-like imagery.
Example: The line "Come,' said death, / choosing her as his / partner for / the last dance" personifies death and uses the metaphor of a dance to represent the end of life.
The final lines of the poem are particularly moving:
"And she, / who in life / had done everything / with a bird's grace, / opened her bill now / for the shedding / of one sigh no / heavier than a feather."
This beautiful conclusion returns to the bird imagery, comparing the wife's final breath to the lightness of a feather. It suggests a peaceful, graceful passing, in keeping with how she lived her life.
Definition: Elegiac - Having a mournful or sadly reflective quality, often used in relation to death or loss.
The poem's tone is both celebratory of the couple's love and elegiac in its confrontation with mortality. It presents a detailed analysis of "A Marriage" that touches on themes common in R.S. Thomas's poems about death, while also celebrating the enduring power of love.
This poem analysis of "A Marriage" reveals how Thomas masterfully uses imagery, metaphor, and structure to convey the passage of time and the depth of love in a long-term relationship. It stands as a beautiful testament to enduring love in the face of mortality, making it a standout piece in English poetry.
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Brad T
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Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
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I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
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Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Detailed Notes and Analysis for 'A Marriage' Poem by R.S. Thomas
The poem "A Marriage" by R.S. Thomas is a poignant reflection on a lifelong love, exploring themes of time, aging, and death. It beautifully captures the essence of a couple's journey from their first meeting to their final moments together.... Show more
A Marriage by R.S. Thomas: An In-Depth Analysis
"A Marriage" by R.S. Thomas is a profound exploration of love, time, and mortality. This single-stanza poem of 21 lines captures the entirety of a couple's life together, from their first meeting to their final parting.
The poem opens with a vivid image of the couple's first encounter: "We met / under a shower / of bird-notes." This metaphor sets the tone for the poem's recurring bird imagery and establishes a connection between the couple's love and the natural world.
Highlight: The use of bird imagery throughout the poem symbolizes freedom, grace, and the fleeting nature of life.
As the poem progresses, it swiftly moves through time, reflecting on fifty years of marriage. The line "Fifty years passed, / love's moment" encapsulates the paradoxical nature of time in love โ a lifetime together feels like just a moment.
Quote: "She was young; I kissed with my eyes / closed and opened / them on her wrinkles."
This poignant line illustrates the passage of time and the enduring nature of love. The speaker's perception of his wife remains unchanged despite the physical signs of aging.
The poem's structure, with its use of enjambment and flowing lines, mirrors the quick passage of time. This technique allows the poem to cover a lifetime in just a few short lines, emphasizing how swiftly life passes.
Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.
As the poem reaches its conclusion, it introduces the theme of death. Death is personified, inviting the wife to "the last dance." This metaphor creates a parallel with the couple's first meeting, bookending their life together with dance-like imagery.
Example: The line "Come,' said death, / choosing her as his / partner for / the last dance" personifies death and uses the metaphor of a dance to represent the end of life.
The final lines of the poem are particularly moving:
"And she, / who in life / had done everything / with a bird's grace, / opened her bill now / for the shedding / of one sigh no / heavier than a feather."
This beautiful conclusion returns to the bird imagery, comparing the wife's final breath to the lightness of a feather. It suggests a peaceful, graceful passing, in keeping with how she lived her life.
Definition: Elegiac - Having a mournful or sadly reflective quality, often used in relation to death or loss.
The poem's tone is both celebratory of the couple's love and elegiac in its confrontation with mortality. It presents a detailed analysis of "A Marriage" that touches on themes common in R.S. Thomas's poems about death, while also celebrating the enduring power of love.
This poem analysis of "A Marriage" reveals how Thomas masterfully uses imagery, metaphor, and structure to convey the passage of time and the depth of love in a long-term relationship. It stands as a beautiful testament to enduring love in the face of mortality, making it a standout piece in English poetry.
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user