In “The Small Hours”, the speaker lies awake at three in the morning, and the mind becomes “an unfair accountant” that lists failures and loses “every receipt for kindness made”. The financial metaphor runs through the middle stanzas.
The volta comes with two words: “And yet.” A blackbird sings “as if it had not read the evidence”, and the tone shifts from anxiety to hope. The final line, “The day forgives me, too”, resolves the poem.
When you analyse voice, consider who is speaking, their state of mind and how the language reflects it.
Worked example
What is the effect of the short sentence “And yet.”?
- It interrupts the long, anxious sentences.
- It signals a change in direction.
Answer:It marks the volta, turning the poem from despair towards hope.
Key words
- voice
- the personality and attitude of the speaker
- volta
- the turn in a poem
- resolution
- how a poem settles its tension
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RL.11-12.4