Compare And Contrast Different Types Of Relationship Presented In A Selection Of The Poems You Have Studied
There are many different types of relationships: loving ones, caring ones, physical ones, aggressive ones, obsessive ones and even jealous ones. These are naturally good topics and subjects for poets to use, as they are all interesting and can be used to make effective poetry. Many different poets over time have tried to explore and understand love through their poems, and many great works have been produced. There have been various types of love poem also. For example, there have been sonnets, ballads and dramatic monologues. These have been written from many different points of view; from that of a man, woman or even an onlooker. They can involve structured arguments to have sex or perhaps the murder of a loved one. It is commonly found that the relationship presented in the poem has a relevance to the poet’s own life and experiences. However this is not always the case, as the poet may just be writing from their imaginations, which is common in ballads. It is essential that all types of love are studied and understood to fully appreciate and understand the very complex emotion of love.
‘A Woman to Her Lover’ is a poem about a woman setting the conditions for her relationship with this man. The poem starts with a question: ‘Do you come to bend me to your will?’
She is asking him if he has come to change her just to suit him and his way of living. The verb 'bend' shows that he will be able to manipulate and control her. This 'will' implies that he is the partner but she rejects this. She then rejects one of the female stereotypes:
‘To make of me a bondslave
To bear you children, wearing out my life’
She is listing the various tasks and roles that she would be expected to fulfil if she were in a relationship with this man. In the patriarchal nineteenth century, women were expected to fulfil the man’s needs, and this included...