Belfast Confetti Flashcards
Who was the author?
Ciaran Carson (born 1948) Belfast born Northern Irish poet. His work is personal of events in the past - mostly the troubles of violence in Northern Ireland.
How are metaphors used in this poem?
An extended metaphor runs throughout the poem. Compares Belfast to a sentence that has been broken and blocked up by punctuation marks. These are used to represent different features of the troubles. The whole poem can be seen as a metaphor for the way that violent conflict destroys language.
How was Enjambment and Caesura used in this poem?
They serve to speed up slow down, link and break up different sections of the poem. This creates a sense of unease. Also combine to create a sense of being cut off as communication systems fall.
How was questions used in this poem?
The sense of chaos and confusion is emphasised through the use of interspersed questions throughout. The speaker is seen to be constantly questioning what is going on, for example ‘why can’t I escape?’ Many of these questions are appear to be echoes of questions being asked of the speaker by others which adds to the sense of mistrust.
How are everyday objects used in the poem?
Carson reveals how everyday objects are turned into dangerous
weapons. For example, in the first stanza, Carson details how
‘nuts’, ‘bolts’, and ‘car keys’ are used in bombs.
What is the form like in this poem?
The poem is written in two stanzas which represent how Belfast/ Northern Ireland has become divided between the two factions. The varying line lengths reflect the chaos of the riots. The different line lengths also mirror how different streets have been cut off by the factions and riot squads.
What is the structure of this poem?
The poem opens as the chaos commences, as
signalled by the opening adverbial ‘Suddenly.’ A rapid deterioration of any sort of order follows. In stanza 1, the speaker is just about able to offer details regarding the riot,
but by the end of stanza 2, their sense of clarity has reduced
to such an extent that they question themselves.
What is the theme of the poem - disorder?
A number of devices combine to make the city appear fragmented and confusing. Everyday objects are utilised as weapons, those who should be neighbours are fighting one another, and at every turn there are blockages and chaos. Carson takes the reader to a place in which all rules regarding order and structure have perished.
What is the theme of the poem - divided society?
Carson presents a place in which factions have developed in society. The divisions are shown through the structure of the poem and also its content.
