In The Snack-Bar Flashcards
What are the themes considered by Morgan in the first stanza?
- Helplessness of the man’s situation
- Isolation from the public
- Lack of consideration and compassion for the unfortunate
What themes are considered by Morgan in the second stanza?
- Embarassment (because he needs help with the toilet)
- Dependancy
- Bravery of the man for asking
What are the themes considered by Morgan in the third stanza?
- Society refusing to help the man
- Helplessness
- Suffering
- Poverty
A cup capsizes along the formica / slithering with a dull clatter
The alliteration of the ‘c’ sound emphasises the sound the cup makes when it tips over
The hyperbole in ‘capsizes’ emphasises how such a small event of a cup tipping over, is made something so big.
The onomatopoeic word “slithering” emphasises the sound the water makes when it spills on the table. “Clatter” emphasises the sound the cup makes when it capsizes
A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack-bar (line 3)
The contrast between “few” and “crowded” emphasises how little people turned round to see the old man out of a very busy bar. This highlights how no one cares about what just happened.
Slowly he levers himself up, his hands have no power (line 6)
The word choice of “levers” has connotations of hard work, describing the old man’s struggle. This emphasises the effort needed to put in just to get himself off his stool, highlighting his helplessness.
The word “no power” has connotations of feebleness and weakness which emphasises his hands which are meant to be a strength of a normal person, is lacking in him
like a monstrous animal caught in a tent (line 10)
Just as a monstrous animal is intimidating and terrifying, this emphasises how the old man’s appearance is scary and frightening, which puts people off from helping him because of his ominous nature and mysteriousness
Long blind, hunchback born, paralysed / he stands / fumbling with the stick
The list emphasises the sheer number of disabilities he must endure
The short sentence of “he stands” emphasises how the reader should be impressed by his willpower despite his helplessness
The word “fumbling” has connotations of awkward and clumsy movements, which emphasises he can’t stand properly as all movements are difficult and also that he is embarrassed that he is having to take help.
‘I want - to go to the - toilet’ (line 22)
The pauses in his speech emphasises how speech is difficult. It also highlights how embarrassed he feels to ask someone to help him with the toilet.
A few yards of floor are like a landscape to be negotiated (line 26)
Just as a landscape is big, vast, full of different things to get across, this emphasises how the snack-bar seems to be impossibly forbidding and something impossible to navigate.
Crunch of split sugar…slow dangerous inches to the stairs (lines 30-34)
The list emphasises the sheer noises he is hearing/things he is smelling. This highlights we are seeing from the perspective of the blind person who can only comprehend 4/5 senses (he can’t see).
”slow dangerous inches to the stairs” emphasises how even walking a few steps is a challenge for the man, he finds it difficult.
And slowly we go down. And slowly we go down (line 39)
The repetition of 2 short sentences emphasises how slow and steady the movements are just to go down the stairs. It again highlights how the man finds simple tasks extremely challenging
An old man’s apology for living (line 46)
Just as an apology is embarrassing because you are making yourself inferior, it emphasises that allowing someone to help him use the toilet is symbolic of awkwardness he has to go through, which is the price he pays for asking.
He is glad to leave the contraption, and face the stairs (line 56).
The word choice of “glad” has connotations being delighted and happy which emphasises he feels accomplished for such a difficult task for which the normal person finds easy.
The word “contraption” has connotations of a difficult machine that is hard to navigate, this emphasises how he finds small things, such as using the toilet, hard.
…persisting patience of the undefeated which is the nature of man when all is said. (line 60-61)
The word “persisting” has connotations of not giving up easily. This emphasises how the man doesn’t lose hope even though he is extremely weak and powerless.
The word “patience” has connotations of acceptance and being forbearing when hardships befall you. This emphasises the man comes to terms with his disabilities and tries to get by with his weaknesses.
The phrase “nature of man when all is said” emphasises how the narrator has learned the virtue of patience and that life requires struggle to be undefeated.
