Essay Questions

What does the speaker’s change of mind about the rat mean in “The Trees are Down”?

The speaker says: “I remember thinking: alive or dead, a rat was a god-forsaken thing,/But at least, in May, that even a rat should be alive.” These sequential lines that depict the speaker’s changed view of the rats imply that the speaker has acknowledged even creeping creatures such as rats are part of the earth. Accordingly, they should not be imperiled or wiped out because they play a part in the diversity of the earth.

Compare “The trees are Down” to “From a Window”.

Charlotte Mew tackles both poems from an eco-critical lens. Both poems focus on nature, particularly trees. Charlotte Mew is eco-aware as she is conscious of the reciprocal the connection that she has with trees in both poems.

How does Charlotte Mew use nature to depict the status of the relationship in “Rooms”?

First, the ‘seaweed smell’ epitomizes the horridness of the relationship as the seaweed emits a damp smell. Second, the ‘maddening tide’ signifies the apprehension that overshadows the relationship.