1. Winter Swans- Sheers 19 February, 2019 Must: Should: Could:
Mini Starter
Draw an outline of a swan and consider how it could be described.
Outside the image:
What a swan(s) could symbolise.
Inside the image:
The description
of a swan using ambitious adjectives.
CHALLENGE
Swans are known to ‘mate for life’. Why could this be an important symbol in a poetry about love?
Background Image:
Swan Image:
Must:
Understand and be able to thoughtfully explain the meaning and main themes of the poem.
(AO1)
Should:
Explore and consider multiple interpretations of the poem.
(AO1/AO2)
Could:
Analyse the language, form and structure of the poem.
(AO2)

2. Context: Owen Sheers
Owen Sheers (born in 1974) is a welsh writer and poet. Welsh history and identity is an important theme in his writing. As well as poetry, he also writes fiction, non-fiction and drama. Sheers is writer-in-residence at the Welsh Rugby Union, having been a rugby player himself. You may have seen one of his regular appearances as a presenter on TV. This poem is from his collection called Skirrid Hill.
What are the benefits of studying a poem by a writer who is still alive?
What are the cons?
Students should consider that with a more modern poet there may be more definitive interpretations of the poem therefore they need to think outside the box to develop more unique interpretations. Also the newer the poem, the less it has been studied therefore they have more of an opportunity to be creative with their interpretations.

3. Why does the last stanza differ in structure to the rest of the poem?
How many sentences are there in this poem?
How does the use of clauses and sub-clauses impact on the way we read and understand the poem?
What is the effect of the
structure on the reader?
Students should notice that it is written in an almost prose like way. Higher ability students may speculate the reason for this.
Swans Image:
CHALLENGE
Why does the last stanza differ in structure to the rest of the poem?

4. Imagery, Symbolism & Metaphor
How has the poet used imagery, symbolism and metaphoric language to portray the theme of love? Annotate your poem.
The swans physical appearance.
The movement of the swans.
The use of pathetic fallacy and personification.
Three Swans Image:
Two swans image:
CHALLENGE
Explore the effect of these devices on the reader.
Is there more than one effect they could have?

5. What is the poem 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 under water – 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.

6. The clouds had given their all – two days of rain and then a break
Personification of the weather – the heavy rain may reflect the problems in their relationship.
Enjambment emphasises the pause in the weather, and perhaps in their arguing.
The clouds had given their all – two days of rain and then a break
in which we walked,

7. gulping for breath at our feet
Personification of the earth’s desperation links to how their relationship is struggling for life.
the waterlogged earth
gulping for breath at our feet
as we skirted the lake, silent and apart,
Multiple meanings – keeping to the edge of the lake, but also keeping their distance from each other and perhaps avoiding the issue that troubles them.
Caesura creates a pause which emphasises their silence and separation.

8. until the swans came and stopped us with a show of tipping in unison.
Suggests what the swans are doing is meaningful for the couple.
until the swans came and stopped us
with a show of tipping in unison.
As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads
Image suggests that the couple are weighed down by the problems in their relationship.

9. they halved themselves in the dark water,
Icebergs have more below the surface of the water than they do above it – the metaphor may suggest that the couple keep things hidden from each other and aren’t communicating, or it could imply that their relationship has a strong foundation .
The word “halved” suggests separation, but also that the swans were a whole to begin with – this reflects the couple’s relationship.
they halved themselves in the dark water,
Icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again like boats righting in rough weather.
Simile shows it’s been a rough time for their relationship, but things are becoming more stable. The rough weather mirrors the rain in stanza 1

10. This is the first time we hear one of them speak to the other- this voice seems to confirm that they’ve turned a corner in their relationship.
This verb represents how the disruption in their relationship is settling down.
‘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,
Porcelain is beautiful and strong – this metaphor reflects the hope that their love will have these qualities.

11. slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand,
Suggests dancing – they’re moving together and in unison like the swans did.
Sibilant sounds throughout this stanza create an impression of softness – this reflects the softening of tension between them.
slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand,
I noticed our hands, that had, somehow,
swum the distance between us
Swan imagery to describe them holding hands – this reflects how they’re following the example of the swans.
Their hands have crossed the physical distance between them, but also the metaphorical distance – they have come closer together emotionally.

12. and folded, one over the other,
Full stop emphasises the sense that the trouble in their relationship has been raised.
and folded, one over the other,
like a pair of wings settling after flight.
They’re no longer two separate things, but part of one whole.
Swan imagery to describe them holding hands – this reflects how they’re following the example of the swans.

13. Poetry Dictionary Skirted – walked around or avoided
Righting – returning to a normal or upright position

14. Feelings and Attitudes
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”.
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.

15. Come up with your own ideas to the questions below:
Why do you think the poem is set in Winter?
Why do you think the poet chose to use swans as the metaphor for this poem?
What evidence is there that the couple have overcome their problems by the end of the poem?
Key Themes
Distance, fulfilment, nature…
Compare the physical and emotional distance here with the distance between the narrator and her lover in ‘Sonnet 29’ . ‘Singh Song!’ explores fulfilling relationships, and nature is key to ‘Letters From Yorkshire’.

16. Meaning Think PAIR SHARE
What do we learn about the relationship in this poem?
PAIR
What can we infer based on the evidence?
SHARE
How does this poem represent the theme of love?
Swans Image:

17. ANALYSING YOUR POEM Voice Ballad Tone Sonnet Symbolism Free verse
Structure
How is the piece organised on the page?
Can you identify the topic of each stanza?
Are the stanzas equal or unequal?
How many stanzas/verses?
Is there rhythm/repetition/enjambment?
What is the line length/rhyme scheme?
Effect
What effect on the reader is the poet aiming to achieve?
(How is it intended to make you think/feel?)
What opinion is conveyed by the poet?
What is the purpose of the poet’s choice of language/opinion/theme?
Meaning
What is the poem about?
Can you discover more than one meaning of the poem?
What ideas and themes is the poet portraying?
What is the poet’s point of view?
Voice
Tone
Ballad
Sonnet
Free verse
Dramatic monologue
Symbolism
Alliteration
Assonance
Juxtaposition
Oxymoron
S.M.I.L.E
Simile
Extended Metaphor
Personification
Rhyming Couplet
Enjambment
Emotive Language
Repetition
Language
Which words has the poet used to convey meaning?
What are the connotations of the language used?
Is there more than one meaning of the word/phrase?
Has the poet used figurative language? (onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance…)
How has the poet used language to infer meaning?
Imagery
Which images are conveyed to the reader?
Does the poem contain metaphors, similes or personification?
Why do you think the poet has included the images in the poem?

18. Reflection: SMILE Paragraph
Point:
Topic sentence with an adjective.
Evidence:
Quotation- try to embed it in the sentence.
Explain:
Select a keyword- why does it stand out?
What is the effect on the reader?
Language Analysis-
Analyse what the word suggests &
how it links back to the adjective.
This suggests…
The use of the word… implies that…
This infers… The poet was trying to convey
The writer wanted to suggest…
The connotations of this word are…
Word Bank