Key Quotes and Analysis Of Originally Flashcards
What is the poem about?
The poem is about a family moving house(and country) with all the changes and anxieties a young child may experience. With the key theme of childhood as well as adapting and displacement.
What is the structure of the poem like and what does this highlight?
The poem is mainly composed of a series of fragmented memories, occasionally using deliberately childish words or phrases. This is reminiscent of the way most of us recall our own child hood and adds to the authenticity of the poem.
What does the title of the poem “Originally” show?
The title suggest, she considers to what extent our identity is shaped and defined not only by environment but by changes in dialect and culture. This sets the tone for the poem as it indicates that there will be a change.
What is the technique and analysis for “We came from our own country“?
T- Pronouns, assonance.
E- Use of pronouns “we” and “our” suggests that this is a shared experience of the family. This is repeated throughout the 1st stanza.
E- “….our country,” - assonance, gentle sound - sense of ownership/belonging.
What is the technique and analysis for “red room which fell through the fields“?
T- Alliteration, Metaphor, Word Choice, Personification.
E- The “red room” is a metaphorical reference to the car they are travelling in. A sense of uncertainty/lack of understanding is demonstrated as the child cannot fully describe/explain the mode of transport. Use of alliteration is simple and childish language. Red has connotations of anger and shock to to leaving what is familiar to them, connotes danger which she may have seen ahead/ facing the unknown, could also suggest a vivid memory which is still strong in her mind.
E- The Personification of “the red room which fell through the fields” suggests a loss of control or helplessness of the speaker in the face of change which makes this journey feel surreal. The word choice of “fell” has connotations of something happening quickly/out of control, which creates the image of speed falling into the unknown.
What is the technique and analysis for “our mother singing our father’s name to the turn of the wheels.“?
T- Contrast, Symbolism.
E- This suggest a hypnotic sound, possibly a distorted memory of what happened. Ambiguous - is the father there or has he gone ahead? Is her mother trying to convey optimism? She is sinning to try and calm her children, “to the turn of the wheel,” suggests some kind of rhythm in her song - soothing and calming. This singing contrast with the crying of the children.
What is the technique and analysis for “My brothers cried, one of them bawling Home, Home,“?
T- Word Choice, Onomatopoeia, repetition.
E- The word choice of “cried” and “bawling” are also examples of onomatopoeia which demonstrate the degree of distress caused by the move especially the brothers’ unhappiness, fear, distress, emotional wrench and the trauma they experienced which helps to highlight their age.
E- “Home,/Home….” - the repeated word cried out, we remember that these are young children - they are unable to express their feelings in fully constructed sentences. Perhaps this is the word the poem remembers most vividly, sense of poignancy. Use of repetition and capital letters for “Home” reinforces the sense of loss/misery.
What is the technique and analysis for “as the miles rushed back to the city, the street, the house, the vacant rooms where we didn’t live anymore.“?
T- Sentence structure, Personification.
E- List of everything emphasises the quantity of things the speaker believes they have left behind. The sequence suggests a poignant re-tracing of the route/ the speaker’s thoughts are returning to the home that they have left behind.
E- Personification of the “miles rushed” suggests she is at odds with the reality of their journey/move. “Where we didn’t live any more” - is this perhaps a sense of acceptance here?
What is the technique and analysis for “I stared at the eyes of a blind toy, holding its paw.“?
T- Word Choice, Contrast, Symbolism.
E- The word choice of “stared” has connotations of gazing/looking intently which suggests a stunned reaction to the move. It is almost as if she is willing the toy to see.
E- Contrast between the speaker’s reaction “stared” with the reactions of her brothers “cried” and “bawling” highlights the poets shocked reaction.
E- Symbolism of “blind toy” like the toy the poet is unfeeling and unaware of what is happening, she has no knowledge of what lies ahead. Almost as if she is going into the move blind sited/blindfolded.
E- Word Choice of “holding its paw” suggests a desperate need for comfort/reassurance. We are sympathetic towards the poet here. We are reminded of her youth and her fear and uncertainty.
What is the technique and analysis for “All childhood is an emigration“?
T- Metaphor.
E- This is the poems central concern, the metaphor compares childhood to an emigration. Just as an emigration means to move from one country to another leaving all you have ever known behind for the hope of a better life, so too Duffy suggests that childhood is a journey from safety/security/the familiar into the unknown/to independence/potentially risky situations for the the chance of a better life with more responsibilities. This highlights the idea of life as a journey with many different stages, with the suggestion of the magnitude of the change. Touches on the idea that there are many big transitions as children move towards adulthood/idea of moving on to something new/foreign/alien/unnatural.
What is the technique and analysis for “Some are slow, leaving you standing, resigned, up an avenue where no one you know stays“?
T- Sentence structure, Alliteration, Word choice.
E- Alliteration and long sentence - mimics the lengthy, drawn-out nature of some of some types of emigrations.
E- High concentration of “s” sound in “Some… slow…. standing…. resigned…. stays” creates a quiet, wistful atmosphere/tone.
E- Word choice “resigned and “up an avenue where no one knows where you stay” suggests that the speaker’s recognition that she does not belong and does not know anyone.
E- Word choice “stays” acts as a reminder of her Scottish roots - proper English would use “lives” in this context.
What is the technique and analysis for “Others are sudden. Your accent wrong“?
T- Contrast, Sentence structure, Word choice.
E- “Others are sudden” contrasts with the long sentence describing the gradual changes mentioned previously suggesting that some types of changes can take you by surprise.
E- Abruptness of minor sentence “Your accent wrong” suggest a lack of acceptance/sense of exclusion. This highlights a key idea that she is set apart from others in her society and that she is aware of her original cultural identity.
E- Word choice of “wrong” not ‘different’ emphasises how she stood out and never fitted in/ wasn’t accepted by other people.
What is the technique and analysis for “Corners, which seem familiar, leading to unimagined, pebble dashed estates, big boys eating worms and shouting words you don’t understand.“?
T- Sentence structure, Word choice, Alliteration.
E- Parenthesis of “which seem familiar” emphasises the suggestion that a sense of confusion and disorientation triggered by the new environment. Not so unlike home but still different.
E- Word choice “unimagined” suggests some unspeakable and incomprehensible horror/uncertainty/confusion.
E- List-like nature of “corners…” suggests the extent of the new challenge to be faced.
E- Alliteration of “big boys” conveys intimidating appearance of the boys and vulnerability of the poet - childish alliteration.
E- The word choice “shouting” suggests the intimidating nature of the way the boys are speaking.
E- The word choice/detail “eating worms” suggests outlandish/disgusting/strange/aggressive behaviour as well as the poet’s revulsion/disgust.
E- Harsh alliterative sounds “accent…. Corners….. pebble-dashed estates…. big boys” creates a rather frightening, aggressive atmosphere - she is not comfortable here.
What is the technique and analysis for “My parents’ anxiety stirred like a loose tooth in my head.“?
T- Simile, Word choice.
E- Simile compares the irritation of a loose tooth to the persistent niggle of her parents concerns. Just as a loose tooth is an irritation which is difficult to put out of mind/irritating/nagging pain, so Duffy suggests that her parent’s concern was a persistent niggle which she found difficult to ignore, she could sense their concerns which they tried to hide. Effective use of imagery also helps to show she is still young here as loosing teeth is connected to young children.
E- Word choice “in my head” suggests that the parents’ concerns about the move are constantly on her mind.
E- Contrasts with mothers optimism in stanza 1.
What is the technique and analysis for “I want our own country, I said.“?
T- Word choice, short sentence, repetition.
E- The word choice of “want” “our” “own” suggests the depth of her desire for the familiar and sounds like a childish lament, a simple plea to return. Idea of her begging her parents to go back.
E- Short sentence - simple assertiveness of her intense desire to return home.
E- Repetition of idea from the the opening line emphasising the idea of belonging/origins.
