Good Friday Flashcards
“Three o’clock”
The religious reference (the time that Christ died) reminds the reader of the religious aspects of the poem but also the detail adds realism to the poem
“Lurches round”
WC - lurches has connotations of sudden movement or jolt this emphasises the drunkenness of the man
The dashes in the first 3 lines
Sentence structure reveals the stuttered speech
“Easter eggs”
Kindly father who is getting some Easter eggs
“Kiddies”
However these Easter eggs have no religious significance for the man and are just a treat for the children
“ a wee drink”
An understatement of how much he has had to drink. This is also an example of the Glaswegian dialect which makes the poem feels so realistic.
Dashes used from yell to understand
Help to show his rambling conversation
“But ye see”
He is trying to justify himself because he feels insecure about who he is and what he’s done
“I’m no saying it’s right”
He understands that it may be wrong to drink on a religious holiday
“Ye-understand ye-understand”
The repetition reveals his uncertainty- he knows that people may not approve of him
“I’m no boring you eh ?”
The question reminds the reader that this is a conversation which maintains the conversational tone
“ I don’t know what todays in aid of”
Unsure of what Good Friday is for reveals that the joy of the celebration is more important than the reason for the celebration
“You’re an educatit man”
Highlights the differences in class between the narrator and the man.
“The working man had nae education”
Undermines himself and looks down on himself for not having any education
“Know what I mean”
Again he is looking for someone to validate his opinions and himself
“Christ aye”
Use if blasphemy again emphasises that the man cares little about the religious significance of the holiday
“ he Lunges”
Has connotations of unsteady this emphasises his way of moving due to the bus and his drunkenness
What are the main themes of this poem?
This poem is a reflection of religious beliefs and how relevant they are to a modern world
The man is celebrating Good Friday without really understanding what Good Friday is
“Easter eggs “ 2nd
He doesn’t forget his purpose which is looking for Easter eggs for his kids
“Eggs” and “legs”
The rhyming couplet of eggs and legs helps to give the Poem a sense of completion that the Poem has ended.
“ ‘D’s ”
Use of d instead of does reveals the drunkenness of the man
“Flops”
WC - flops - man sitting down highlights the man is drunk
“Ye-understand”(1)
Uses understand a lot which highlights the importance to the man that he is not judged and that the speaker understands his POV
“Ye’ll maybe think that it’s a- funny day to be celebrating “
The man is aware that it may be frowned upon to drink on Good Friday as it is a religious holiday
“I like to celebrate when I’m no working”
He places great importance on the fact that he works and enjoys the time off that he has
“Or was he rose fae the dead like”
As the man becomes more unsure of himself his speech becomes more ungrammatical which shows he is more worried and insecure
“See what I mean”
Looking for speaker to understand what he is saying
“He just canny-jist hasn’t got it”
He is struggling to express or explain his feelings
“Swings down”
Unpredictable motion a happy movement
“Into the sun”
The man moves off to somewhere positive and hopeful
