litany Flashcards
poetic voice
Poetic voice is vulnerable at times, but often nostalgic and thoughtful
“Candlewick bedspread three piece suite display cabinet”
Parenthetical listing- the home is to present to others and not for comfort, they are materialistic (a list of what they will buy)
PV: reminiscing formal home environment
“Language that embarrassed them”
Short sentence- even in their own home they consider others perceptions of them, policing of language (repression of freedom to say or do anything that’s not deemed ‘proper’)
PV: critical of the women + unsatisfied
“The terrible marriages crackled”
Opinionative adjective- recognise unhappy marriages, doesn’t want the same
PV: realises flaws of society
Metaphorical verb- imitates danger, marriages are unsafe + caution was necessary
PV: confusion + pity
“At my mothers knee”
Prepositional phrase- subservience, the daughter is below her mother literally and figuratively (hierarchy)
PV: unwanted submission
“Mass graves of wasps bobbed in a jam-jar; a butterfly stammered itself into my curious hands”
Contrasting imagery- violent vs domestic- forced to live in a specific way, no individuality
Forced to grow up into the society
PV: anger
Contrast between mother and daughter- daughter is growing + learning, mother is harsh + unforgiving
PV: vulnerable
“And a thrilled, malicious pause salted my tongue”
Contrasting adjectives- increased tension in the group, knows it’s wrong but doesn’t acknowledge it
PV: rebellious
