History Flashcards
STRUCTURE
What overall type of structure does this poem have?
highly irregular structure
free verse
STRUCTURE
What does the inconsistency of structure convey?
the confusion and strong changes in emotion that can be felt by hearing the news
thought process becomes erratic
STRUCTURE
What other 2 ways could the visual representation of the poem be interpreted as?
destroyed and damaged twin towers
broader representation of confusion and shock within soceity
STRUCTURE
What do the occasional stanzas of deliberate and structured show?
sections of collected thoughts
helping to convey important meanings
STRUCTURE
However, what does the poem still feel dominated by vague idea convey?
confusion and uncertainty felt by reader
STRUCTURE
What could the mix of condensed and fragmented stanzas be showing?
different elements and parts of society that could have been integrated over time
a gradual loss of collective memory of important past events
STRUCTURE
How is loss and confusion further emphasised? How does the reader feel uncertain, too?
unfinished feeling by enjambment
reader feels uncertain because a reader is never sure when a line will end of pause
STRUCTURE
What does the no rhythm scheme and word structure mimic?
rhythm of speech
STRUCTURE
What sense does the length, space and placement of lines on the page create?
a sense of falling
e.g. mirror literal falling of Twin Towers on 9/11
narrator’s sense of security if collapsing
STRUCTURE
What does the poem becoming less and less disjunct symbolise?
perhaps the poet does manage to gather his thoughts somewhat
STRUCTURE
What does the poem end on? What does this imply?
a quatrain
the important message that there is nothing concrete that defines a person
e..g people’s thoughts and actions cannot always be logically explained
STRUCTURE
What may the abstract thought in the last stanza/quatrain be?
the narrator’s rationale as to why a person could bring themselves to commit terrorism
POETIC TECHNIQUES
What does the semantic field of the sea/sea life symbolise?
diversity of human life
despite everyone being different, there are factors that hold them in common
POETIC TECHNIQUES
Why does the allusion to unity have a big effect on the reader as they progress through the poem?
this makes them realise how easy it is for division to arise from any sad/horrific event
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How are links to universal ideas made? What does this highlight?
through roots in the natural world
highlights the shared experience s of humanity within the world
POETIC TECHNIQUES
Where does a source of positivity come from?
positive light imagery semantic field
e.g. gold , bright
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How does Burnside create a backdrop of uncertainty? Why does this create uncertainty?
war related ideas
consider the global and military repercussions
POETIC TECHNIQUES
Why may the reader feel a general sense of unease?
they understand all the permanent forms of conflict in the world
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How is the theme of uncertainty expressed?
the poet is uncertain of:
- who we are
- what is important in life
- how he can be expected to life a normal life after an awful event
- he is aware of his mortality
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How does Burnside convey the theme of uncertainty?
contrast between the concrete and the abstract
POETIC TECHNIQUES
What does the narrator take comfort in…to stop the uncertainty?
finding tangible and familiar signs of life
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How does Burnside attempt to find a connect between these concrete and abstract elements?
the poem takes place on a beach
it is compromised of sand and stands (individual particles)
but when together they behave somewhat like a fluid
the beach is a partway between the two
POETIC TECHNIQUES
What 3 key themes does the poem tackle?
- society and culture
- identity
- conflict
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How is the theme of society and culture represented?
the reaction of society to terrorist attacks and traumatic events
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How is the theme of identity presented?
ideas of fish and sea life present the contrast and diversity in society
also simultaneously show what is common and shared between people
POETIC TECHNIQUES
How is the theme of conflict portrayed?
shows repercussions of conflict
shows how conflict impacts on individuals and society as a whole
What is ‘History’ about?
an event that happened at the time it was written
underneath the title it says ‘September 2001’ which strongly implies it is about the aftermath of 9/11
