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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 – 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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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
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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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
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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 – 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 you’d never ask...
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Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
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
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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Sudenaz Ocak
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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.
Greenlight Bonnie
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user