Shadwell Stair

Scarborough

The poem

Wilfred Owen wrote this poem in February 1918 while on Home Duties in Scarborough, when WW1 was still ongoing. Back in 1918, many people avoided this place; it wasn’t a very pleasant area.

Title, structure and form

-Fixed rhyme scheme suggest that he is trapped in his past experiences of war.

-The indent on the middle two lines of the stanza gives the impression of floating, feeling lost or like a “ghost” or “shadow”:Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxxxx XxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxx

-Sibilance creates hissing noises that addsa sinister touch to the already eerie poem.

The speaker establishes himself as the ‘ghost of Shadwell Stair’:-There is juxtaposition in the lines ‘Along the wharves by the water-house’ and ‘And through the dropping slaughter-house’ by bringing together what is life giving and what is life ending.-‘slaughter-house’ introduces an element of danger.-Refers to himself as the ‘shadow’; almost haunting, which relates to the next stanza.

Stanza 1

The speaker describes himself as having ‘flesh both firm and cool’:-This suggests that he, and the other ‘ghosts’ might not actually be ghosts and shadows but social outcasts who have come here to be themselves. -Despite the bleak surroundings, Owen describes it beautifully when he writes ‘eyes tumultuous as the gems’ and ‘Of moons and lamps in the lapping Thames’-“Moons and lamps” create an almost romantic atmosphere.-The reference to moons, lamps and dusk illustrate the dark surroundings and suggests this is the only time when these social outcasts can come out and be themselves.

Stanza 2

The romantic imagery continues in this stanza with ‘purple street-arc’ though the image of the speaker being a haunting ‘ghost’ is referenced through ‘Where I watch always’. The phrase could also be interpreted as escapism on the speaker’s part.-The speaker sounds, for the most part, lonely throughout the poem. -To contrast with the romantic imagery, Owen writes ‘Dolorously the shipping clanks’ The use of onomatopoeia coupled with reference to great sorrow reminds readers that during the day, the Thames is a hub of trade and energy.

Stanza 3

Owen continues to describe the beauty of the place, but is brought back to reality when dawn breaks.-The word ‘syren’ is spelled differently and has two meanings. (1. a long and prolonged sound used as a signal or warning, 2. a Greek mythological character who lured men to their deaths.)-Personifies dawn: Owen conveys the message that Shadwell Stair is only this mysterious place at night and that when London wakes, it is no longer a place of privacy.-Final line: ‘I with another ghost am lain.’ could be referring to his own anxiety, and not an actual figure.

Stanza 4

-It may not be about war-Suggests that beauty can be found even in the ugliest of places and reality.-The ‘ghost’ can be a metaphor for Owens anxiety.

Summary