Eden Rock

Question 1

“They are waiting for me somewhere by Eden Rock”

Answer 1

Technique: verb
-“waiting” suggests reunion.
-“Eden” is a biblical reference to heaven; suggests it is paradisiacal and idyllic.
The reader can infer that the speaker’s parents are in heaven or in a place like heaven and are happy.

Question 2

“My father, twenty-five, in the same suit

Of genuine Irish Tweed”

Answer 2

Technique: descriptive language
-States specific information to represent a vivid image.
-“same” suggests memories and nostalgia.
-Reference to age; time has stopped.
Reader can see that there is a strong relationship between the speaker and his father.

Question 3

“Her hair, the colour of wheat, takes on the light”

Answer 3

Technique: light symbolism
-Mother made to seem angelic.
-Light on hair creates an image of a halo on her head.
-Clear remembrance of parents represents connection.
The angelic view of his mother shows positivity and an aspiring tone.

Question 4

“The same three plates”

Answer 4

Technique: repetition
-Keeps repeating same; reflects how like they haven’t changed, the relationship hasn’t either.
-“same”, again evokes the sense of familiarity.
Idea of complete family unit, togetherness.

Question 5

“The sky whitens as if lit by three suns”

Answer 5

Technique: light imagery, repetition
-"white" proposes idea of purity.
-"sky" reinforces heavenly setting.
-Holy trinity, religious reference.
-"three" repeated again - family unit.
Readers acknowledge the perfection of the scene.

Question 6

“They beckon me to the other bank”

Answer 6

Technique: verb
-Encourage speaker to follow or come.
-Insinuates the parents’ desire to be united with him.
Love the parents’ have for the speaker more evident.

Question 7

” ‘Crossing is not as hard as you think’ “

Answer 7

Technique: reported speech
-Shows communication
-Could also be him convincing himself his dad/parents died without pain.
-Passing to afterlife.
From this readers can sense a strong relationship.

Question 8

Three line stanza then one line final stanza

Answer 8

Technique: three-line stanza, one-line stanza
-Three-line stanza represents the parents and the dog on one side of the river.
-One-line stanza represents the speaker on his own.
this represents the physical distance between them, this could encourage a strain on relation.

Question 9

Rhyme scheme, context

Answer 9

• ABAB rhyme scheme, but some slant rhymes.

- Causley’s dad died when he was seven. Could be journey of the mind in which he communicates with his parents.