"Flowers" Flashcards
“Gabbled to one another in Gaelic, mysterious and hateful to her lowland ears”
She feels left out and isolated when she is with the others. She can’t understand what they are saying. “Gabbled” implies a collection of noise and the talking is unclear/a mess and all jumbled up.” Mysterious” suggests unexplored and unknown. “Hateful” implies a very strong dislike/detest. She loathes it.
“The red-eyed dissenter”
The fact that Margaret is described as a dissenter suggests that she often disregards and rebels against what she is told to do by her teacher. It implies that’s she is a very strong-willed and independent young girl. The fact that her eyes are “red” is significant as it could be a symbol of anger or that she has had a tantrum and been crying.
“She didn’t wan to be here in the highlands staying with aunt Sheena. She didn’t want to be safe from bombs”
She feels unhappy and annoyed about what has happened to her. She feels as though it is not fair. She doesn’t understand the seriousness of war. She has a very negative attitude towards the war. She would rather be in the middle of the war than safe in the country.
“They all had to promise solemnly, with their hands in their bibles, never to go down to the shore”
This is effective as “solemnly” implies it is not an empty promise. It is taken very seriously. “Bibles” suggests that the promise is so important, that they are making a sacred promise to God. The fact that the children have to do it every day stresses it’s importance.
“She didn’t crouch nor try to hide. She didn’t care if Miss Laing was spying on her. She didn’t care either that she was breaking a sacred promise”
Margaret completely disobeys the rules and starts walking down to the shore by herself. Margaret couldn’t care less if the teacher saw her. She is doing as she pleases, and proving that nobody can tell her what to do. She is brazen about it. “Sacred” implies it is the most important thing, nothing really matters as long as nobody breaks this promise.
“Neatly coiled…camouflaged against the background of greeny-grey stone”
The snake is camouflaged which means it is blending into the background and is a danger that is initially hidden. Symbolically this links to Margaret and the war. The dangers of war have been hidden from her. Margaret is unaware of the reality of war.
“Represent not only that detestable alien country but her own wickedness in disobeying”
Margaret attacks the snake. I think she did this as in her eyes the snake symbolised the countryside which she hates and her mischievous nature. She is full of hate and anger when she attacks the snake. All the built up anger is taken out on the snake. She also feels guilty for harming the snake.
“It’s beauty, harmlessness and it’s loneliness”
This implies the flower is ver pretty to look at. It cannot hurt anyone or anything, and is small and innocent. It also highlights that the flower is all by itself among the long grass. Margaret can relate to this feeling and decides to pick the flower up. It represents the airmen and is a symbol of the war.
“They have no sign at all that they knew she was there”
This implies that the men gave no acknowledgement to the fact that someone was walking towards them. This is unusual as usually people are aware of their surroundings and clock them immediately.
“A step or two nearer, then rigidly halted. Her scalp tingled and her whole body seemed frozen in the cold bright sea.”
We know that Margaret has realised the true nature if the scene in front of her. It highlights that she came to a very quick and complete stop. It makes me think that Margaret is standing completely still, possible frozen in shock at what she has discovered. It implies she is nervous and horrified. “Frozen” and “cold” are significant as they imply an eerie atmosphere, and often death is associated with coldness.
“Fingers of his right hand, flung out in the shallow water, were gleaming bones”
This adds to the horrific scene as Margaret realises the bodies are not complete. This implies his fingers are floating in the water, the bones reflecting in the sunlight. This would be a shocking scene for an innocent little girl especially to witness.
“Crushed into a green and black mess”
This is symbolised of the two dead airmen. The crushed flower was a mess just like the dead bodies. Margaret’s innocence had also been destroyed.
Margaret rubs the flower:
“Madly on the grass”
I think she did this to try and get rid of the memory. She maybe thinks that it is symbolic is the horrific discovery. Getting rid of the flower will get rid of the discovery.
