Use of literary quotations
Part of your exam question asks you to focus on the writer’s use of literary quotations in the short story. “Sea Story” by A. S. Byatt includes references to several authors and quotations from their poems: John Masefield's “Sea Fever” (ll. 19-26), Andrew Marvell's “To His Coy Mistress” (l. 59) and Robert Burns' “A Red, Red Rose” (ll. 80-87 ).…
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“Sea Fever”
The quotation from John Masefield's poem “Sea Fever” is meant to show how poetry about nature (the sea) inspired Harold’s character to pursue literary studies and leave behind his real experience of nature.
The quotation describes the imper…
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“To His Coy Mistress”
The reference to Andrew Marvell's “To His Coy Mistress” (l. 59) does not include literary quotations from the poem, but it is relevant because it marks Harold’s change. Being in Oxford has made him less attuned to listen to his n…
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“A Red, Red Rose”
The quotation from Robert Burns' poem, “A Red, Red Rose” (ll. 80-87) is included in the story as part of the message Harold writes and puts in the bottle that he sends across the sea to Laura.
“A Red, Red Rose” (ll. 80-87) is a love p…
