In Mrs Tilscher’s Class

Question 1

You could travel up the Blue Nile

Answer 1

“You” - word choice: reader immediately involved in class. We feel immersed in this class and poem. Class seems even more immediate therefore vibrant, interesting, fun

“Could travel up” - suggests opportunity of ability, showing what was possible, open ended possibility, lots to do

“Blue Nile” - colour, vibrancy, childhood, fun

Question 2

While Mrs Tilscher chanted the scenery

Answer 2

“Chanted” - word choice- suggests lively, loud, energetic

Question 3

That for an hour

Answer 3

Word choice- suggests must be very interesting to hold young child’s attention for long period of time. Suggests wide variety + quantity of activities.

Question 4

Then a skittle of milk

Answer 4

Word choice- Her class is so fun that even a milk bottle is fun. Everything is a game.

Question 5

And the chalky Pyramids rubbed into dust

Answer 5

Fleeting, changing, outside world creeping in

Question 6

A window opened with a long pole

Answer 6

• symbolic of outside world. To access it need a “long pole”
• suggests how far away (freedom) outside is, children are protected, don’t need to worry

Question 7

The laugh of a bell swung by a running child

Answer 7

• “laugh”: word choice (lexis)- enjoying themselves having fun
• “laugh of a bell”: personification/transferred epithet- suggests everything in this environment is fun and lively, not just the people.
• “running child”: word choice- enjoying, energetic, liveliness