Quotes Notes

Structure & Form “chill in her arms” - This short sentence shows how lonely she is and
(rhyme, rhythm, that there is no one to warm her.
stanzas, line length,
enjambement etc.)
Meaning (poet -
intention, tone,
mood, purpose,
theme)
Imagery (vivid strong -
images that stand
out and why)

Language (similes, “dreams the loathed The use of personification could show that the
metaphors, ocean hates her for some reason maybe because
personification, verb
ocean is coming for her” she did something such as killing him, or the ocean
tense etc.) could be finishing the job by taking her with him
Effect on reader -
(moral, lessons,
emotions evoked,
teaching etc.)
Connections “And the high tides - This link to earlier in the poem “the loathed
(different parts of ocean is coming for her” which could
the poem, other
breakers” foreshadow her death at some point from the
texts etc.) ocean
Angle (alternative “Dreams the loathed - This could mean that she lost him “now hes
interpretations) gone” by the ocean as “his shirt is on the line”
ocean is coming for her” which shows his recent passing and that “she
“chill in her arms” wakes to the screaming gull” which could link to
his screaming.
Title/ themes “at sea” - The title could show that he dies “at sea” and
that is why the girl is lonely

Unseen Poetry Planning Template

Jennifer Copley presents the theme of loneliness throughout the poem “At Sea” in numerous ways, such as
through her use of language and structure to present the theme of loneliness, this essay will go over this in
detail.
One of the ways Copley presents the theme of loneliness through her use of language, which is used in:
“Dreams the loathed ocean is coming for her.” The use of the personification gives life to the ocean
specifically anger as supported by: “ the loathed ocean”, this can support the idea the character is so lonely
to the point where even the ocean does not like her. However this can be interpreted in a different way as
the ocean may have killed whoever she is missing: “now he’s gone” and that she sees hatred in the ocean
for killing that “he”, supported by “loathed” being the word to describe her. Also the phrase: “the high
tide’s breakers’” could foreshadow her dreams coming true and possibly the ocean ending her life as well.
Another way that Copley presents loneliness is via her use of structure, specifically with the use of: “chill in
her arms.” Copley uses short sentences throughout the poem to further show the theme of loneliness as
the sentences are small compared to the rest of the poem comparing her loneliness to the rest of the
world. Also, the “chill in her arms” shows that there is no one to warm her further supporting her
loneliness. However, “chill in her arms” comes right after “the high tide’s breakers” which my present
another emotion of fear, as she knows that the ocean took his life supported by the title: “At Sea” which
supports the idea that he died “At Sea”, which justifies her response of the “chill” being fear instead of
being cold.
In conclusion, Jennifer Copley heavily presents the theme of loneliness throughout her poem through loss,
“his shirt on the line” could mean that he only past away recently and that she just started living in her new
loneliness with out him, lost at sea.