A Quoi Bon Dire

1. A Quoi Bon Dire By Charlotte Mew - Sarah Choi

2. A Quoi Bon Dire – Charlotte Mew Seventeen years ago you saidSomething that sounded like Good-bye;And everybody thinks that you are dead,But I. So I, as I grow stiff and coldTo this and that say Good-bye too;And everybody sees that I am oldBut you. And one fine morning in a sunny laneSome boy and girl will meet and kiss and swearThat nobody can love their way againWhile over thereYou will have smiled, I shall have tossed your hair.

3. Charlotte Mew - background • Born 15 November 1869, died 24 March 1928 • Lived in Bloomsbury, London • Two of her siblings suffered from metal illness and was sent to metal institution • Three others died in early childhood leaving Charlotte, her mother and her sister, Anne • Charlotte and Anne made a pact never to marry for fear of passing on insanity to their children • After the death of her sister from cancer in 1927, she descended into a deep depression, and was admitted to a nursing home where she eventually committed suicide by drinking Lysol.

4. Background • In May 1912 Mew was introduced to May Sinclair, a leading novelist who was active in the women's suffrage movement. Mew fell in love with her, but although Sinclair encouraged her writing; she did not respond to Mew's feelings and the relationship eventually broke up.

5. Summary • A Quoi Bon Dire is a calm poem that Mew had declared her endless love between her and her lover. It suggest the reality of aging and loss. There are no bitter or regretfulness portrayed as Mew is confident that they are going to reunite as death cannot separate their love.

6. Shapes and pattern • First impression of this poem can suggest ideas of love, loss and memories of their young life. • We instantly know that the poem is in first person narrative through 'I' and 'We'. • It has a (ababcdcdefeff) rhyme scheme • There are no changes of rhythm through out the poem

7. Language and tone • The mood/tone is not bitter or regretful as Mew is looking forward to meeting her lover again when she dies. This excitement is projected in the very last sentence “smiled” and “tossed”. • The language used through out the poem is very simple and easily understood. This is significant as it helps to convey the audience of the memory of when she was young more vividly. • In the first stanza it begins with “seventeen years ago”. This suggests that she still believes that the relationship is continuing and had never ended.

8. In the first stanza it begins with “seventeen years ago”. This suggests that she still believes that the relationship is continuing and had never ended. Also “it sounded like Good-bye” reinforces that she had never thought it was the end of their relationship even though when everybody else knew it was. She had never given up. • “so as I grow stiff and cold” shows that she is aging and growing old. She is moving toward death and is saying “Good-bye” to people for the last time. Although Mew does not look old in the eyes of her lover.

9. Conclusion • Love is something that continues even after death. It cannot be broken by the most fearful factor death. • Aging and losing a loved one may be sad but it’s an excitement, as everyday is another step closer to meeting them. • You cannot give up who you love as you love them so much.