1. Full Moon and Little Frieda
Ted Hughes

2. Biographical Information
Born 17 August Died 28 October 1998
Married to Slyvia Plath-committed suicide in 1963
Lover Assia Wevill-died same way
Frieda was first child of 2 from Plath born in 1 April 1960
FM&LF was a group of poems from the collection “Wodwo”

3. Full Moon and Little Frieda
A cool small evening shrunk to a dog bark and the clank
of a bucket -
And you listening.
A spider's web, tense for the dew's touch.
A pail lifted, still and brimming - mirror
To tempt a first star to a tremor.
Cows are going home in the lane there, looping the
hedges with their warm wreaths of breath –
A dark river of blood, many boulders,
Balancing unspilled milk.
'Moon!' you cry suddenly, 'Moon! Moon!'
The moon has stepped back like an artist gazing amazed at a work
That points at him amazed.

4. The Title Full and Little-Contrasting images
Relating the two objects together
Moon-Symbol

5. First Stanza
The evening can be said to be seen through Frieda’s eyes-links to the ‘and you listening’
Tone of tranquillity and calmness present-suggested by the words ‘cool small’
‘dog bark’ and ‘clank’
‘Shrunk

6. Second Stanza Repetition carries on with description of scene
‘You’ can refer to both reader and Frieda
Sense of anticipation is created in the next 3 lines ‘tense’ ‘brimming’ ‘tempt’

7. Third Stanza
Slight change in the poem (follows on from anticipation stanza 2)
‘Looping’ links to the wreaths
‘Warm Wreaths’ alliteration
Cannot escape his past
Darker tone is present- ‘river of blood’
Cows represent bloodshed
‘Unspilled’

8. Fourth Stanza Sudden change of tone, brings Hughes and reader back
Repetition of ‘moon’ shows how it is now point of interest.
‘you’ implies again that Frieda is unaware she is still innocent
If Hughes is taken to be the moon
Relationship between father and daughter

9. Fifth Stanza
‘Him’ refers to Hughes
Repetition of ‘amazed’

10. Themes
Relationships
Memories
Descriptions of nature
Moon

11. Techniques used
Imagery
Repetition
Free verse

12. Possible Exam Questions
Explore the ways in which relationships are portrayed in Full Moon and Little Frieda
How does Ted Hughes create an atmosphere throughout the poem, Full Moon and Little Frieda?