Junkie Monkey Reel Flashcards
Junkie explores…
The destructive nature of addiction and its impacts upon individuals
4 big ideas
Oppression
Self destruction
Despair
Isolation
Addiction is a misguided attempt…
To escape personal obstacles and pain
Universal message
Drugs are the new slave masters of the 21st century
The absent pronouns, succinct and direct writing …
Symbolise the inhumane experience of taking in drugs
“Arms drag, smacking wet in soft bone”
(+ overview)
Imagery of physical deterioration
Whole body experience
“Arms drag”
Addicts perspective
Serves as a metaphor towards the decaying resilience and defiance addicts have towards drugs
“Soft bone”
(+ deeper implication)
Angelou symbolises how addicts’ previously resistant bones are intolerant to all the intake of drugs and as a result their bones have weakened and adopted a permanently unnatural state.
D.I: the effects of drugs are everlasting. Humans can only endure a certain amount of physical pain
Angelou addresses society through the use of…
The plural pronoun, “Their”, suggesting that this is a worldwide issue that is occurring in many people
“Arms drag” alongside the sibilance…
Slaves perspective
Represent the tiredness and exhaustion slaves feel from their daily routines of having to endure physical pain
“Their familiar magic lost”
“Familiar”
The adjective highlights the intimacy and fondness addicts have towards drugs. They try and prolong their happiness and pleasure…
What effects does trying to prolong happiness have in their lives?
Investing in drugs has a consequence upon the accessibility addicts have towards healthcare and also the problems that derive from economical suffering
“Magic”
The abstract noun conveys the supernatural experience addicts undergo when taking drugs
“Lost” + “forgot”
Lexical field of disorientation
What’s the purpose of the lexical field produced by “Lost” and “Forgot”?
Angelou suggests that once you surrender to drugs it is futile to reclaim your previous identity and morals. Drugs erase your uniqueness and agency as they domineer your thoughts and hopes, leaving addicts powerless and weak.
The assertive tone in “Dreams fail” further emphasises the addict´s
Loss of a moral compass
Deeper implication…
Drugs can manipulate our behaviour and thoughts….
restricting our freedom and enhancing our psychological suffering
“Eyes dart, die, then float in / Simian juice”
Metaphor and imagery of society’s disapproval towards addicts
“Eyes dart”
Societal rejection towards those in desperate need of help.
Universal messagefor “Eyes dart” line….
Angelou encourages society to subvert from their traditional conventions and take action in global problems
Links to the poem…
“Lady luncheon club”
Where the higher class opt to take an ignorant and hypocritical approach to the lower classes problems.
“Die”
(+ D.I)
Through the intransitive verb enclose by caesuras, Angelou gives voice to society’s unspoken desires for the demise of addicts as they serve as a burden to society’s economical situation.
DEEPER IMPLICATION
The lives of addicts are viewed as insignificant in society
Alternatively “Eyes dart” my symbolise…
(talk about the emotional effect)
It may symbolise the impact society’s blind eye has upon an addict’s life; Addicts are emotionally hurt by the lack of help and care received.
“Float”
The verb symbolises the isolation and alienation addicts feel. This evokes sympathy in readers.
“Simian”
Is a racial slur that is typically used against black people as it refers to monkeys
Context…
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
“Murder is its sweet romance”
The metaphor challenges societal conventions as it portrays suffering as having a certain beauty to it
“Murder”
Addicts perspective
The noun may convey addicts attempts in trying to romanticise the death inflicted upon them by drugs
“Murder”
Slaves perspective
May symbolise the joy slave masters find in inflicting pain and suffering upon slaves
“Sweet romance”
Emphasises the emotional intimacy between addicts and drugs
“Sweet”
May refer to the taste of drugs, enticing addicts
Angelou grasps the readers attention through the adjective “sweet” as she…
Gives innocent connotations to drugs
“Romance”
The noun mirrors the same obsession and attachment that may arise in an addict’s relationship with drugs.
Deeper implication overall…
Drugs are able to give solace and support to addicts which is why they desire for more
“How long will / this monkey dance?”
Structure
The rhetorical ending and the short stanza length create an unsettling atmosphere
Angelou gives voice to….
The families of addicts in order to express their concerns.
Voicing the families concerns serves as a wider message that portrays…
The suffering that drugs can also inflict upon an addict’s family
References the title and the organ grinder’s monkey, which is a metaphor…
To the uncertain life span of addicts
“Monkey”
(+link, context)
Derogatory term which links to the poem “Willie” and the prejudice Angelou, a civil rights activist, faced during the 20th century
