Edwin Morgan - Poetry Flashcards
What is the theme of ‘Winter’?
- The paradox that death is something that is certain and yet we have no idea what it is like.
- It uses the image of a frozen pond ro reflect the nature of death and relentless passage of time.
What is the overall mood of ‘Winter’?
- Throughout the poem there is a bleak and melancholic mood.
- There is also a nihilistic tone.(nihilistic - a person who believes life is meaningless.)
(“Winter”) analyse the quote “that nothing sees”
Q - “That nothing sees”
A - Fundamental reality of death - you cannot know death and yet it is inevitable. The poem ends with a bleak and nihilistic tone.
(“Winter”) analyse the quote “heavy light”
T - Oxymoron
E - “Heavy light)
A - The winter light creates an unsettling and oppressive feeling.
(“Winter”) analyse the quote “ice appears, it holds”
Q - “Ice appears, it holds”
A - When all live things die, cold, lifeless ice survives after the decay of all else.
(“WInter”) analyse the quotes “decay” and “die”
T - Word choice
E - “Decay” and “Die”
A - Reminds the reader of things aginga and then dying. Decay suggests deteriorate and decline.
How does Morgan use pathetic fallacy in ‘Winter’?
The weather/season echoes the bleak emotion of the poem. Winter is a time when this decay or hibernate and so, it suits the poem’s theme and mood.
What are the main themes of ‘In the Snack Bar’?
- The overwhelmingness of being a blind disabled man doing regular tasks, as well as society’s indifference towards others.
What is the main mood of ‘In the Snack Bar’?
- The man’s vulnerability is discussed throughout the poem as he has to put his life in other people’s hands in overwhelming situations.
(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “crowded”
T - Word choice
E - “Crowded”
A - The atmosphere is busy and hard to navigate, connotations of being overwhelming.
(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “no power”
T - Word choice
E - “No power”
A - The man is so weak that he struggles to do normal things, making him extremely vulerable.
(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent”
T - Simile
E - “Like a monstrous animal caught in a tent.”
A - Just as a monstrous animal is large and scary, so too is the man unusual and frightening - making him vulnerable as nobody wants to go near him.
(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “mountainous coat”
T - Metaphor
E - “Mountainous coat”
A - Just as a mountain is huge, so too is the man’s coat giant in comparison to his small figure, making him seem inferior to all else.
What is the theme of “Good Friday”?
- Working class v. upper class (a criticism of the prejudice towards those in the working class)
What is the mood of “Good Friday”?
Hopeless, humorous, everyday, realistic
(“Good Friday”) Analyse the repetition of the quote “bliddy ignorant”
Creates a sense of frustration with himself and with his situation. His word choice has become more angry and less mild.
(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote “Christ aye”
This is the second time that Jesus is referred to in the text, although, rather than the man seeing him as a religious figure, he instead uses his name as a swear and shows that he isn’t religious, and yet he is celebrating a religious holiday.
(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote “brakes violently”
The bus relates to the movements of the man as his movements are extremely unpredictable, highlighting his drunkenness and the difference in composure between him and the educated man.
(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote
“On very
nearly
steady
legs.”
The structure of the end shows the way the man is walking, down the stairs in an unsteady and jolted way.
What are the main themes of “Glasgow 5 March 1971”?
Crime, ignorance, society’s lack of concern for others and 70s Glasgow.
What type of poem is Glasgow 5 March 1971?
Instamatic
(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “Spurts arterial blood”
“Spurts” shows that the blood is gushing strongly from her wound - describes the pulsing gush of blood - potentially fatal.
(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “The two youths who have pushed them”
The tone here is very matter-of-fact, it is a statement, however, this piece of information is shocking to the reader as it is when they learn what has truly happened to the couple, they didn’t fall into the window on their own accord, instead, they were pushed.
(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “to loot what they can smartly”
“To Loot” tells the reader that this attack was part of a much larger crime, instead of just assaulting the couple, the youths were also going to rob the store (a jewellery store as suggested in the first line - “a ragged diamond”) , this method is brutal, yet effective.
“Smartly” suggests that the youths were focusing on efficiency and speed, they did not care about the two innocent people they had just brutally injured, instead their only focus was robbing the store as quickly as possible, highlights society’s lack of concern for others.
