Exploring Meanings in Owen Sheers' Winter Swans Poem

Winter Swans by Owen Sheers LO to analyse and explore the meanings in the poem

Progress indicators Good progress Outstanding progress Level 4 13 16 marks Level 4 13 16 marks Clear understanding of the poem Clear understanding of the poem Level 5 17 20 marks Thoughtful, developed consideration of the poem using accurate subject terminology

challenge: in pairs, discuss what you know about swans? Ultra challenge: how could swans link to the idea of relationships?

Winter Swans The clouds had given their all two days of rain and then a break in which we walked, the waterlogged earth gulping for breath at our feet as we skirted the lake, silent and apart, until the swans came and stopped us with a show of tipping in unison. As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads they halved themselves in the dark water, icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again like boats righting in rough weather. They mate for life you said as they left, porcelain over the stilling water. I didn t reply but as we moved on through the afternoon light, slow-stepping in the lake s shingle and sand, I noticed our hands, that had, somehow, swum the distance between us and folded, one over the other, like a pair of wings settling after flight

Challenge: After a first reading of the poem, discuss in pairs what you think it is about What kind of relationship is the poet discussing in this poem? Why is the reference to the swans effective?

So whats it about? A couple walk around a lake after two days of bad weather. They don t talk to each other and they walk apart from each other their relationship is troubled They stop at the sight of some swans and watch them as they tip underwater they eventually right themselves and swim away. The swans display seems to change the mood between the couple. The couple carry on walking and end up holding hands they seem to have reconciled

Form The poem is mostly written in tercets (three line stanzas) which makes each stanza look unbalanced. The uneven line lengths and lack of rhyme scheme also contribute to a feeling of disjointedness this reflects the troubled nature of the couple s relationship. However, frequent enjambment emphasises its continuity. The final stanza is a couplet which shows that they ve been reunited as a couple.

structure The narrator and his partner are separated for the first five stanzas but they reunite in the final two. The swans provide a turning point at the start of stanza three they re beautiful and inspirational in contrast to earlier descriptions of nature as a place of suffering. This reflects how the couple have reached a turning point in their relationship.

Natural imagery Natural imagery reflects how their relationship struggles and then improves. Swans are a metaphor for their relationship as they re part of the natural world, they show that love is natural. This influences the couple they hold hands so naturally that they don t even notice it happening

contrasts Language about disturbance and peace, separation and togetherness, leaving then returning is used to show how a couple are making up after a period of conflict in their relationship.

Direct speech One small piece of dialogue is used in the poem, which shifts the focus back onto the couple. It also breaks the silence this shows that there s hope for their relationship.

Feelings and attitudes Tension: it s clear that something has happened between the narrator and his partner the earth is gulping for breath and they walk silent and apart . Peace: there s a feeling of peace towards the end of the poem. The couple have had their problems, but they return to each other and are settled in the end.

Questions: Why do you think the poem is set in winter? Why do you think the poet chose to use swans as the metaphor in this poem? What evidence is there that the couple have overcome their problems by the end of the poem?