George Gascoigne, uses intense diction to portray his pain and misery, using words such as “gleams”, “dazzled”, and “scorched”. Gascoigne’s diction has a convincing effectiveness in creating a complex tone of the pain he encountered when he looks at the face of this woman. Additionally, the words Gascoigne's uses creates a theme of agony and distress. Using phrases such as “hold my louring head so low” and “blazing eyes my bale have bred” all conveying the …show more content…
The poem, follows the classic “ABAB” rhyme scheme, has iambic pentameter, and ending with a rhyming couplet which helped end the poem in a rather subtle stand. The speaker starts by stating “You must not wonder, though you think it is strange” that he doesn’t dare look at this other woman, due to his past experience of love. The speaker in the poem was heartbroken from a woman that denied his love previously, and now he cannot look at this other lady, while he thinks she is wondering why he is acting the way he is. Nevertheless, the speaker creates a metaphor by precisely describing the analogy of a mouse being caught in a trap and relates that to himself, and to express why he acts the way he does; having his head down when he is near her.
The speaker, emphasizes his feelings by comparing what he is going through. Once again, the analogy of the mouse being trapped appears as he uses imagery to convey his misery. Being trapped in the idea of loving this other lady, but knowing that the last woman he loved, denied him his love so now he is in a dilemma. Just like the mouse, that would rather hide and avoid any food because the last time he encountered the food, he was kept captive. Demonstrating that due to his past experience, he will continue on the rest of his life afraid, and cautious so he doesn’t go through it again, like the mouse. Through the use of poignant diction, structured form, and vivid imagery, George Gascoigne emphasizes his gloomy, and dismal attitude throughout the poem as he expresses his feelings towards