Kin

Question 1

Explores the complexity of…

Answer 1

sibling relationships

Question 2

Angelou emphasises familial relationships to be…

Answer 2

fundamental for personal growth, maturity and emotional support.

Question 3

CONTEXT

Answer 3

Angelou is reflecting upon her own experiences with her brother, Bailey

Question 4

3 Big Ideas

Answer 4

• Everlasting relationship that helps you overcome adversities and hardships
• Reminisces her past with her brother
• The depth of a sibling bond allows you to navigate the challenges of adulthood.

Question 5

Universal Message (OVERALL)

Answer 5

Angelou may be suggesting that relationships between siblings have been established as being eternal since the beginning of time.

Question 6

“We were entwined in red rings”

Answer 6

The metaphor portrays their bond as everlasting.

Question 7

The past participle verb, “Were”, produces a…

Answer 7

melancholy tone that might suggest that they have somehow drifted away, as they are no longer connected as they previously were.

Question 8

“Entwined” also suggests that…

Answer 8

they are inseparable and were destined to face life challenges together.

Question 9

The past participle verb, “Entwined”, alongside the relationship may suggest…

Answer 9

that their relationship is life long

Question 10

The abstract noun, “red”, could portray…

(+ D.I.)

Answer 10

their intense passion and admiration for each other.

DEEPER IMPLICATION

Nothing can surpass the omnipotence of sibling love.

Question 11

“Rings”

Answer 11

The noun unifies the speaker and the brother together.

This highlights the significance their biological similarities have between their profound emotional interaction towards one another.
It connected them even before birth of conception.

Question 12

“Sheba, Eve and Lilith”

Answer 12

The inclusion of this triplet of women from the Bible and Jewish mythology may highlight the timeless and elemental relationship between siblings. It is part of a wider cultural heritage as well as a deeply personal reference to her own brother, Bailey, to whom this poem is dedicated to.

Question 13

“First snows” and “Virgin forest”

(+ U.M)

Answer 13

The imagery of nature symbolises purity and innocence as the lexical field is also of whiteness.

UNIVERSAL MESSAGE:

Sibling relationships are part of the natural world.

Question 14

The adjective, “First”, may reference…

Answer 14

new beginnings. Perhaps suggesting that every moment onwards from birth is to be experienced with your sibling

Question 15

“Virgin forest”

(+ context)

Answer 15

May foreshadow the dangers they have yet to encounter together.

CONTEXT:

Angelou´s rape

Question 16

“Virgin forest” links to “Before muddy waters”. Which is a metaphor portraying…

Answer 16

the transition from the early, simple and easy stages of the relationship to becoming more complex.

Question 17

“Before”

Answer 17

The preposition portrays the speaker´s desire in returning back to their childhood experiences.

It portrays her fondness and affection towards her past childhood memories.

Question 18

“Muddy”

Answer 18

The adjective produces a shift in chromatic imagery: From the whiteness explored in : “First snows” and “Virgin forest”, to a dirty, darker shade of tone.

Perhaps this may suggest that as we grow older, sibling relationships become more complex, with more deceit and deception.

Question 19

Universal message 2

Answer 19

Although this is a deeply personal and intimate poem about the poet´s relationship with her brother, Bailey, it holds a U.M. about the theme of childhood relationships being more positive compared to the multifaceted adulthood relationships.

Question 20

“You fought to die”

Answer 20

Re-inventing oneself due to external factors / environment

Question 21

The oxymoron, “…fought to die”

Answer 21

produces ambiguity as it may be a voice for the longing to re-invent oneself.

OR

It raises questions in readers as we wonder whether we need to metaphorically die in order to rid ourselves from our past selves.
D.I: Some childhood relationships are not as magical as they appear to be. This implies that despite the unity of sharing experiences with a loved one, they can inflict pain and suffering

REPHRASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Question 22

The direct address, “You”, produces an accusatory tone that may illustrate…

Answer 22

the speaker´s longing and yearning in finding relationships that are similar to the one with her brother. However, she can´t replicate / find his unique attributes within anyone else, suggesting that their relationship is unique and special.

Question 23

“You left me to force strangers”

Answer 23

The speaker´s high expectations that men will be similar to her brother.

Question 24

“Force”

Answer 24

Suggests that the speaker had no other choice but to act in this manner.

Question 25

“Taxations”, “Owed”, “Pay”

Answer 25

Angelou draws awareness to the speaker´s wrongful longing in seeking brotherly relationships from strangers.

As seen in the lexical field of transaction, demonstrating the significance of her relationship with her brother.

Question 26

Context for : “You fought to die”

Answer 26

Bailey tries to rid himself from his past because of his traumatising experience in dealing with his sister´s rape.
AS WELL AS: The racism and racial discrimination he has had to endure.

Question 27

“I will remember”

Answer 27

Nostalgic tone - peaceful and tranquil pace towards the end of the poem.

Question 28

“Will”

Answer 28

The modal verb accentuates the speaker´s determination in keeping the fond memories of her brother present in her mind.
This suggests that even through the rough moments, their relationship is still meaningful to her.

Question 29

In the final stanza…

Answer 29

she implies that her sibling bond has caused a huge, positive, transformation to her lifestyle and personal growth.

Question 30

“Southern woods and long talks”

Answer 30

Imagery

As she reminisces her past with him, she portrays her childhood affection and care.

Question 31

“Southern woods and long talks”. The sibilance…

Answer 31

portrays the intimacy they had between them

Question 32

Angelou playfully extends the idea of whispering in the long sentence…

Answer 32

“Shielding meaning from big ears / of overcurious adults.”

Question 33

“Shielding meaning from big ears / of overcurious adults.”

Answer 33

The line subverts societal views of adults keeping secretes away from children.
This conveys the mystery that may arise from a comfortable and close relationship.

Question 34

The luminous lexical field, that has been transformed from the violent and graphical imagery depicted at the start of the final stanza, is seen in : “Explosions”, “twilight”, “fireflies”…

Answer 34

illustrates a beautiful enchanted scene.

This creates a positive and celebratory tone at the end of her poem which emphasises the wonderful essence having a relationship with a sibling is.

Question 35

UNIVERSAL MESSAGE (for the end of the poem):

Answer 35

Our relationships with our family form the bedrock of our lives and are powerfully influential

Question 36

2nd and 3rd stanzas are significantly shorter, being made up of a quatrain and a tercet…

Answer 36

This may reflect their divide and separation in their relationship which occurred as they entered adolescence, when Bailey left home.

It may also reflect upon their lack of contact during this period.

Question 37

Final stanza

Answer 37

Allows the poet to develop in more detail the return of Bailey and the depth of their shared memories.