Birdz Flashcards
What does the first representation of the bird represent ?
“A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over:”
The parrot represents the entrapment of women in society and how they’re stuck in a never ending loop.
What does the pigeon house mean to Edna?
It allows Edna to be at ‘home’, be an independent women and have the isolation she wants. It also allows her to progress in her sexual awakening.
“The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.”
What is the meaning of this quote?
This quote represents women breaking free from the restraints of the patriarchal society. It emphasises that Edna needs to be strong in order to pursue her lover for Robert.
“A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water.”
What does this quote represent about the references of birds?
Edna has broken free from the society. She is representing the escape of a Victorian women.
The bird represents all the women that weren’t strong enough to break free from the restraints in society.
The reference to the bird falling down could be interpreted as Edna failing her escape.
Specifically how does the parrot relate to Edna?
Parrots can only mimic what they have heard which shows Edna’s struggle to express her own desires.
Who does the mockingbird represent?
A - Robert
B - Mademoiselle Reisz
C - Edna
Mademoiselle Reisz - like only the bird can understand the language of the parrot, Reisz is the only one that can understand Edna.
What does Edna keep in her pigeon house ?
It is a place where she only keeps the items that are truly hers and not her husbands.
There are words regarding Edna’s flight, these are often spoken by Mademoiselle Reisz. What does she recognise?
She recognises that Edna is challenging social conventions, knowing the journey will be difficult and foreshadows the possibility of failure.
Finish the quote
“A green and yellow parrot, which…”
“…hung in a cage outside the door”
What’s the significance of the parrot quote at the start of the book?
It reflects the entrapment Edna feels in her marriage
