Adrienne Rich - The Uncle Speaks in the Drawing Room Flashcards
Condescending term
Dismissive
Disapproval
“Mob”
Alliteration Repetition of sullen = emphatic Gazing as if they admire him and envy him - what the uncle thinks the lower class think of him
“Standing sullen in the square, gazing with a sullen stare”
Hostile behaviour, intimidating the Uncle
The stones are their power to bring about change but they don’t follow through in throwing them
Beginning to consider rebellion
“Some have talked in bitter tones, some have held and fingered stones”
There is no attention paid to their grievances
He is reassuring his equals not to worry
He’s confident
However he loses thus confidence
“These are follies that subside”
Glass is used to represent the fragility of accepted social values and their wealth
They fear for their status, wealth and luxury items
“Certain frailties of glass”
Back to his smug confident reassurances
He does consider the working class as a threat
“Dare” sounds like he’s talking to children
“Not that missiles will be cast. None as yet dare lift an arm”
Referring to last protests as a storm is dismissive as a storm is temporary
He’s suggesting no damage they do will ever be permanent
He has no empathy
The ruling orders have been changed before
“Storm”
A symbol of wealth and privilege
Social unrest causes almost sound of roar of thunder
Onomatopoeia
The shivering of the ruby bowl vividly conveys the violence of the Poole and its chilling consequences
“Antique ruby bowl shivered in a thunder-roll”
They are more superior than the general human race according to him
Sheds a heroic light on his wealth suggesting that they have a responsibility to preserve the treasures
“Treasures handed down “
..
“In the keeping of our kind”
Realisation that they are the custodians of the current order of society
He knows his generation will be the last to enjoy such privilege
“We stand between the dead glass-blowers and murmurings of missile-throwers”
Tone
Eloquence
Condescending
Arrogant
Ignorant
