Aunt Julia Flashcards
Name, explain techniques and theme “Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic”
Word choice, it’s causing a communication breakdown for them both and a language barrier as neither of them speak each other’s language. The theme is frustration as they cannot communicate Clearly
“Very loud and
Very fast” name and explain techniques and theme
Repitition of ‘very’ emphasises the fact that she has a large personality and she’s proud of her heritage .
Word choice of loud and fast tells us it’s confusing for the poet. The theme is frustration and anger as they can’t communicate
“I could not answer her” name and explain techniques and theme
Parenthesis- explains why the poet could not answer her. The theme is frustration and anger as they cannot communicate
“ I could not understand her” name and explain techniques and theme
MacCaig does not speak the language which is causing him frustration and anger. Theme is frustration as they cannot communicate
“She wore men’s boots” name and explain techniques
Word choice- men’s boots tells us that she was a hard worker and she wanted to be recognised for that so she wore those boots to show this.
“When she wore any”
Connotations of a simple and rustic lifestyle as it’s showing that Aunt Julia is not phased by her appearance as she doesn’t always wear shoes
“Stained with peat” name and explain techniques
Word choice of peat- it’s used in agriculture so this is showing that she’s a hard worker as she does the work and doesn’t care about being dirty
“While her right hand drew yarn” name and explain techniques
Word choice- this shows that the poet observed Aunt Julia a lot as they couldn’t communicate. This shows a sense of admiration
“Hers was the only house” name and explain techniques
Word choice- is implying that it’s her home which means that she didn’t have a husband and was independent however in those days it was uncommon for a woman to own a home
“In the absolute darkness” name and explain techniques
Word choice- saying it’s in the darkness is implying that it’s pitch black and even though he can’t see, he still feel the sense of calmness.
“She was buckets” name and explain techniques
Metaphor-
Word choice- saying she was is telling us it’s in the past and he looking back on his aunt.
Buckets is suggesting hard work and physical labour.
“Water flouncing”
Name and explain techniques
Word choice- flouncing suggesting that’s the movement of water- personification
“She was winds pouring Welty” name and explain techniques
Word choice- it’s a rough and bleak environment
Metaphor- it’s saying that aunt Julia has determination and gets on with it no matter what the weather as she has no choice as it’s work that needs to be done.
“Silenced in the absolute black”
Word choice- silenced is suggesting that theeed no sound around her as she’s passed on, and there is a complete change as she’s been silenced however when she was alive she was always making noise and talking
“With a seagulls voice” name and explain techniques
Metaphor- not flattering and screechy, it’s saying how loud and harsh aunt Julia’s voice is. It’s piercing to maccaigs ears
