aunt julia Flashcards
recite Aunt Julia
Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic very loud and very fast. I could not answer her — I could not understand her. She wore men’s boots when she wore any. —I can see her strong foot, stained with peat, paddling with the treadle of the spinningwheel while her right hand drew yarn marvellously out of the air. Hers was the only house where I’ve lain at night in the absolute darkness of a box bed, listening to crickets being friendly. She was buckets and water flouncing into them. She was winds pouring wetly round house-ends. She was brown eggs, black skirts and a keeper of threepennybits in a teapot. Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic very loud and very fast. By the time I had learned a little, she lay silenced in the absolute black of a sandy grave at Luskentyre. But I hear her still, welcoming me with a seagull’s voice across a hundred yards of peatscrapes and lazybeds and getting angry, getting angry with so many questions unanswered.
what does the repetition of the words “very” and “i could not” as well as “loud” and “ fast tell us?
Repetition of “very” and “I could not” highlight how difficult/impossible it was to communicate with his Aunt.
“loud” suggests annoyance at high volume and “fast” speed caused difficulties in understanding. using these words also conveys frustration caused by this
what does the fact that Aunt Julia spoke “very loud and very fast” tell us about her?
that she is energetic
what does each verse in the poem start with?
a reference to Aunt Julia
what does the pause at the end of “i could not answer her” represent?
the pause places focus on his inability to communicate with her
“she wore mens boots” meaning?
She does traditionally male tasks and is practical.
“when she wore any” meaning?
Her work is physically demanding, both out of doors and
within her house.
this could also suggest poverty.
could also suggest she was one with nature
“strong foot” connotations?
conveys her physical strength which she would need to complete her tasks.
“stained with peat” meaning?
suggests lack of vanity/work ethic/she is at one with the land
“paddling with the treadle of the spinningwheel” meaning?
“paddling” reflects rhythmic movement
the line itself also suggests dexterity/high level of skill
overall, it accentuates the lengthiness of the spinning process. It also creates a sense of movement and activity which MacCaig associates with his aunt.
In almost every description of her in the poem she is either in motion or speaking, what does this convey?
In almost every description of her in the poem she is either in motion or speaking. This creates stark contrast with the shocking, silent finality of her death in the final stanza.
what does “drew yarn marvellously out of the air” convey?
“marvellously” out of the air. As if she is some kind of magician. Sense of childish wonder at the process and her expertise. It is almost entrancing for the young boy watching. this suggests that he admires her.
The long vowels in her hand drew yarn elongate the line. This helps to convey the impression of the wool being stretched out. The use of the present tense throughout this stanza creates a sense of immediacy and shows how vividly and readily he can still access these memories.
“Hers”/“(Hers) was the only house” meaning?
suggests uniqueness/sense of security. the affection he feels for her is evident in the decision to open this stanza with the pronoun Hers, emphasising her significance to him.
“absolute darkness” meaning?
Despite the typically frightening “absolute darkness”, the poet seems very comfortable and safe.
“crickets being friendly”
As well as the box bed being enclosed and comforting. He vividly remembers lying in the absolute darkness listening to crickets being friendly which could represent his closeness to nature and how he feels safe while listening to them. This is clear when the crickets are shown to be “friendly”
