An Easy Passage by Julia Copus Flashcards
STRUCTURE
What type of layout does this poem have? And what effect does this have on the reader?
STRUCTURE
- Free verse in a single verse
- Shows reader sense of fluidity and movement, supporting title
- freedom, life is continuous and has no structure
- relates to how girl sees her life ahead of her (future)
STRUCTURE
What does the line length show?
STRUCTURE
- Generally similar which reduces sense of it being a singular block
- Help reader’s understanding and reading
- But could also show a challenge, evoking similar sense of those passing the ‘rite of passage’ into maturity and experience
STRUCTURE
What is so singular about this poem?
STRUCTURE
- Lack of sentences
- Variety of punctuation and extensive use of commas
- Replacing full stops and full caesura so as not to break the continuous feel of the poem
STRUCTURE
What does the rhetorical question pose as?
STRUCTURE
- Turning point
- Natural turning point as after this the poem returns to extended sentences
STRUCTURE
What does the sentence structure show?
STRUCTURE
- Long sentences sandwiched between shorter one demonstrate shift in narrative and development of the girl - innocence to experience
- Representative of childhood (turbulent adolescence, returning to more stable adulthood)
STRUCTURE
Where is the most distinctive pause and what does it represent?
STRUCTURE
- “on her thighs. What can”
- further supports idea of the middle of the poem as a transition point in the narrative
- focus on sexuality that will plague later on in life
POETIC TECHNIQUES
What does the lack of variety of pronouns create?
POETIC TECHNIQUES
- As written in third person and with lack of dialogue
- Creates distance from events being described with more observational tone
- Feeling more story-like
POETIC TECHNIQUES
Where is the semantic field of the body visible? What does the second way add to the poem?
POETIC TECHNIQUES
- physical descriptions of the girl and her friend, focus on different parts of her and what she is wearing
- descriptions of their surrounding environment (“warm flank of the house”, “eye of the street”)
- This adds importance to their actions as they encourage idea of onlookers to the scene
POETIC TECHNIQUES
What’s the effect of the poem’s lack of identifiers as to who the girls are?
POETIC TECHNIQUES
- Seems universal and applicable to all
- Seems positive for the girls - can be whatever they’d like
- But shows more saddening aspects of society, such as having ideas and dreams that never come to fruition
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
Where does Copus use repetition?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
-“for now”
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
How does Copus use juxtaposition?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
“flush-faced secretary” suggests what is ahead for the girl, it hints at the dullness of adult life compared with the excitement of adolescence the girls feel
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
How does Copus show the transitional stage?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
- “halfway”, “for now”
- halfway between child and adult
- step forward in life
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
How does Copus use contrasts?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
- ups and downs
- indoors and outdoors
- shows things on the cusp - sun against shade
- shows freedom vs dullness - “half in love” with her friend
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
How important is the narrative voice in the poem?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
- remains unobtrusive for most for the poem bu tview is important
- scene is viewed through her eyes as if through a move camera. it zooms in for close-ups on different characters and allowing brief glimpses into their lives
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
Where does Copus use similes?
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
- “like the slash of armaments”
- girls are destructive or harmful (perhaps to themselves because they are so naive
- unpredictable and ‘electric’
