Material Flashcards
TITLE
-non specific
- ambiguity reflects the change and the futility of materials over time, hence the need for change. Symbolic of the societal change in the poem
- connotes material-ism of the 21st century and how ideals have changed
VOLTA
-sixth stanza has nine lines (one extra) and has noticeable enjambement across the stanzas which is the only one to do so
- disrupts flow of poem representing the tonal shift towards a sadness tinged nostalgia and the outpouring of of nostalgia she feels towards the past
- after this the last three stanzas have a lot more irregularity showing the tone has shifted towards nostalgia and reflection
- expresses loss of old parenting style and enteral loss of his mother.
Form
-spring rhythm made by iambic tetrameter
- as the poem progresses there are increasing breakages in this rhythm which may show the withering of the comforts of old traditions and the mother child relationships
Hanky motif/ opening line
- handkerchief is a bygone feature of the past and in the poets childhood and acts as a symbol of the values and behaviours of her late mother and thus all in this era of parenting
- the opening line is humorous and light heartiest. The personal pronoun ‘my’ highlights the closeness of their relationship and the more tangible rapport of the past generation
- queen also shows a matriarch and the superiority of women/mothers in that era
Lexical field of sentimentality in the first 2 stanzas
- ‘waving’ highlights the emotional and adoration of the old style of parenting. Connotes it the separation of families often at war time which shows how she feels separated now but ALSO how it is a symbol of true love for your family
- mopping up… highlights the closeness of a hanky and how it was a primary object in the act of soothing and a close intimate relationship
- the colloquialism of the word ‘cardi’ creates sentimentality and knowing, as does the personalised embroidering. Shows the long term nature of possessions rather than fleeting materialism
‘She brought her own; I never did’
- juxtaposition + CEASURA highlights the generational difference and the indifferent, shallow nature of the modern era
- tone of regret caused by the pause emphasesis how she feels she never connected with her mothers older style
‘Closed department stores;
-beginning break in the iambic pattern showing how slowly the experiences of the olden days are beginning to disappear
- nostalgia and regretful tone
- culture and genre died with the hanky, symbolic of the ideas of a bygone age
Continuedmotif of colloquialism and sentimentality
- enjambement between lines shows outpour of regret and nostalgia
- the ‘step together’ repetition creates structure and shows the simplicity and heartfelt mentality of the elder generations
- highlights how the old form of parenting and society allowed you to form a community with traditional values
Persona emphasis at ‘nostalgia only makes me old’
-Shortest line in poem w caesura leaves reader to ponder why the narrator in the modern world feels so touched by what has been left behind even if it harms them mentally
- they feel old because of the changes in motherhood, culture and genre since their adolescence
- could indicate they dont want their children to feel future nostalgia, this is supported by the next line
‘Whos noses strangers clean’
- lexis strangers indicates both that tissues are dispesneible and thus unfamilaiar with no mark of personality
- this symbolises how societally there is a lack of motherly/parental affection and importantly there is no sense of traditional British friendliness/colloquialism
Killed in tvs lassitude
- ‘killed in tvs lassitude’ suggests that innocence and awe have been lost to the omniscience of social media, the dynamic verb ‘killed’ highlights how brutally and mournfully this old tradition has been taken away yet the attitude ‘lassitude’ implies that this change is suggestible lazy
- shows how the world has become consumable
Brought biscuits I would bake
- highlights the loss of the old parenting style
- dynamic verb ‘bought’ and conditional verb ‘would’ juxtapose one another and underscore the abrupt loss of sentiment
- shows a lack of motherly love and an increase in consumerism
‘There’s never a hanky up my sleeve’
- joint shortest sentence
- abrupt and somewhat cyclical to the beginning of the poem except this has the effect of juxtaposing the morals of her mother and revealing how bland the new world has become
- lack of innate connection that is so heavily describe d through the semantic field of sentimentality at the begnnngng
