Post by Admin on Oct 3, 2016 20:09:29 GMT
Theme
·Relationships
Title
The title is particularly interesting because of it’s literal and metaphorical meaning. The “ice” acts as a metaphor for relationships while the “thinness” of ice suggests the fragile and delicate nature of relationships. Eventually, the ice melts and this mirrors the relationship eventually ending.
Theme
The theme of this poem is relationships and the poet depicts the fragile and transient nature of relationships. The poet traces the beginning, development and ending of this relationship through the use of an effective simile: ice skaters represent the individuals .The simile of the skaters learning to skate as a pair is used to describe the nature of how the relationship progresses. From the beginning of this poem, the ice symbolises the strength of love between these two individuals. However, by the end the ice represents a barrier and sense of awkwardness between them.
Symbolism
Simile of the skaters. Loxley refers to the skill of skating to highlight the development and demise (breakdown) of the relationship .She contrasts the persistence and endurance of the skaters – willing to learn and improve – to the transient relationship of the two individuals. The popular phrase “skating on thin ice” comes to mind when reading the latter part of this poem.
Structure
6 stanzas
Each represents a significant stage of the relationship
-between the skaters
-between the individuals
The reader can easily trace the development and demise of the rel. by viewing the opening words of each stanza:
1.“At first…”
2.“At first…”
3.“Later…”
4.“Later…” *Note the poets careful choice
5.“Last of all…” of words
6.“Last of all…”
Mood and Tone
The mood is quite high-spirited and exciting at the beginning of the poem but changes to become quite low-spirited and sad towards the end.
There is a hint of inevitability from beg. to end and a strong sense of regret and sadness.
The tone is sometimes quite scheming in nature, hence the poet’s deliberate use of brackets to indicate private thoughts: “(Though secretly I’ll be hoping…)”, “(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping…)”
Language
Simple, yet effective
Carefully chosen words and phrases e.g. “scramble”, “steady thaw”, “creeping cracks”, “acquaintance”, “jealous”, “break the ice”
Clever use of similes – “like skaters”
-“like children”
Clever use of metaphors – “the thickness of ice”
- “the thinness of ice”
Double meanings in most lines:
1. 5&6 “At first we’ll be like skaters
Testing the thickness of ice”
2. 11&12 “The triple jumps and spins
Will become an old routine”
3. 14&15 “Later we will not notice the steady thaw
The creeping cracks will be ignored”
4. 21 “Hurt by missing out on a medal”
·Relationships
Title
The title is particularly interesting because of it’s literal and metaphorical meaning. The “ice” acts as a metaphor for relationships while the “thinness” of ice suggests the fragile and delicate nature of relationships. Eventually, the ice melts and this mirrors the relationship eventually ending.
Theme
The theme of this poem is relationships and the poet depicts the fragile and transient nature of relationships. The poet traces the beginning, development and ending of this relationship through the use of an effective simile: ice skaters represent the individuals .The simile of the skaters learning to skate as a pair is used to describe the nature of how the relationship progresses. From the beginning of this poem, the ice symbolises the strength of love between these two individuals. However, by the end the ice represents a barrier and sense of awkwardness between them.
Symbolism
Simile of the skaters. Loxley refers to the skill of skating to highlight the development and demise (breakdown) of the relationship .She contrasts the persistence and endurance of the skaters – willing to learn and improve – to the transient relationship of the two individuals. The popular phrase “skating on thin ice” comes to mind when reading the latter part of this poem.
Structure
6 stanzas
Each represents a significant stage of the relationship
-between the skaters
-between the individuals
The reader can easily trace the development and demise of the rel. by viewing the opening words of each stanza:
1.“At first…”
2.“At first…”
3.“Later…”
4.“Later…” *Note the poets careful choice
5.“Last of all…” of words
6.“Last of all…”
Mood and Tone
The mood is quite high-spirited and exciting at the beginning of the poem but changes to become quite low-spirited and sad towards the end.
There is a hint of inevitability from beg. to end and a strong sense of regret and sadness.
The tone is sometimes quite scheming in nature, hence the poet’s deliberate use of brackets to indicate private thoughts: “(Though secretly I’ll be hoping…)”, “(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping…)”
Language
Simple, yet effective
Carefully chosen words and phrases e.g. “scramble”, “steady thaw”, “creeping cracks”, “acquaintance”, “jealous”, “break the ice”
Clever use of similes – “like skaters”
-“like children”
Clever use of metaphors – “the thickness of ice”
- “the thinness of ice”
Double meanings in most lines:
1. 5&6 “At first we’ll be like skaters
Testing the thickness of ice”
2. 11&12 “The triple jumps and spins
Will become an old routine”
3. 14&15 “Later we will not notice the steady thaw
The creeping cracks will be ignored”
4. 21 “Hurt by missing out on a medal”
