Memorial

Question 1

What is the poem about?

Answer 1

This poem is an elegy, a poem or song that is a lament for the dead, for a beloved person in MacCaig’s life.
That person is probably MacCaig’s sister, Frances, who died in 1968 as this poem was published in 1971.
Memorial is a sad and beautiful poem about how the sense of loss is present in every aspect of the poet’s life.

Question 2

“Everywhere she dies and in the final stanza, she can’t stop dying”

Answer 2

Blunt/matter-of-fact opening statements convey the simple truth that her death surrounds
him.

Question 3

“everywhere” and “dies”

Answer 3

Repetition of “everywhere” and/or “dies” reinforces the fact that he cannot escape from this.Present tense shows it is still vivid in his mind.

Question 4

“no sunrise … mountain”

Answer 4

Patterned list of phrases “no sunrise … mountain” emphasises the inescapable nature of her death as these are places not usually associated with death.

Question 5

“but”

Answer 5

Placement of “but” after the list highlights the pleasure he previously took has become tainted by her death.

Question 6

“silence of her dying sounds”

Answer 6

Paradox “silence of her dying sounds” conveys the devastating impact of her death as its intensity blocks out everything else. It, in itself, is his only focus.

Question 7

“carousel of language”

Answer 7

Imagery of “carousel of language” is intricate. Sensible interpretations should be rewarded which link/contrast it to the ideas suggested by “the silence of her dying”. For example: the frivolous, noisy, joyous nature of a fairground; the endless, circular movement
which has no purpose other than to entertain; the connotations of childhood freedom and innocence.

Question 8

“web”

Answer 8

Imagery of “web” connotes: a deadly trap possibly suggesting his grief is so powerful it eliminates all other emotions/ interconnection or interwoven human emotions – no escape from absolute quiet.

Question 9

“stitches”

Answer 9

Word choice/imagery of “stitches” further illustrates
that his despair is so firmly secured in his psyche that all
future happiness will be overpowered/vanquished.

Question 10

“web/stitches”

Answer 10

Candidates may also make a
case for “web/stitches” having more positive connotations e.g of his memories of happier times being secured/fastened/locked away. As before, sensible interpretations, which are justified with evidence, should be considered.

Question 11

“How can …”

Answer 11

Rhetorical question “How can …”creates a pessimistic tone highlighting that his grief is so
prevalent he can see no escape.

Question 12

“clasp”

Answer 12

Word choice of “clasp” suggests a tight grip showing the close bond and the strength of his feelings towards his loved one. Thus, this conveys the impact
her death has had on him.

Question 13

“thick death”

Answer 13

Imagery of “thick death” portrays death as something

impenetrable which he can never break through or recover from emotionally.

Question 14

“intolerable distance”

Answer 14

Word choice of “intolerable distance” conveys his feelings on the inevitable, unbearable barrier between the living and the dead. Highlights his wider beliefs about the finality of death being a gap which can
never be bridged.

Question 15

“she grieves … grief”

Answer 15

Repetition/echoing in opening

line “she grieves … grief” informs of her sympathy/ comfort for him in his sorrow, thus reinforcing their love.

Question 16

“dying” and “she tells me”

Answer 16

Present tense of “dying” and “she tells me” conveys his vivid recollection that at the end of
her life she was still concerned about the impact, on him, of her death.

Question 17

“bird … fish”

Answer 17

References to nature “bird … fish” are contradictions of the normal order of things. He sees death as a reversal of existence and so their relationship has been permanently altered.
Equally death is being presented as part of the natural cycle of things symbolised by the bird and the fish.

Question 18

“crocus is carved….shapes my mind”

Answer 18

Imagery of “crocus is carved….shapes my mind” offers a brief respite in mood as he appreciates her invocation of nature to highlight that death is part of the circle of life. As such, her death inspires him to be more creative in his work/be precise in the words he uses.

Question 19

“But”

Answer 19

“But” introduces a contrast/change of mood to one of melancholy about his loved
one being forever lost to him.

Question 20

“black words”

Answer 20

Word choice of “black words” continues this mood and hints at his despair about the finality of
death forever separating them.

Question 21

“sound of soundlessness”

Answer 21

Oxymoron “sound of soundlessness” echoes his

anguish in stanza 1 about the intense nature of his all consuming grief.

Question 22

“that name”

Answer 22

Word choice of “that name” is vague and unspecific highlighting his view of the implausibility of
reunion after death

Question 23

“nowhere …. continuously going into”

Answer 23

Imagery of “nowhere …. continuously going into” is
ambiguous in nature conveying his bleak outlook that her death is a never-ending journey with no
certainty or hopeful conclusion.

Question 24

“she can’t stop dying”

Answer 24

“she can’t stop dying” shows
how her death is constantly on his mind. The present
(continuous) tense illustrates its vividness and clarity which threatens to overwhelm him.

Question 25

“she makes me”

Answer 25

“she makes me” conveys their bond and the strength of his love for her, which will prevail through time.

Question 26

“elegy”

Answer 26

“elegy” shows he has become a living testament to the profound nature of grief as an elegy would usually be written as a tribute to her. Instead he subverts the
notion to show how profound his melancholy is.

Question 27

“masterpiece”

Answer 27

“masterpiece” normally relates to an outstanding piece of work/impressive creation. This satirically conveys his belief that his grief is so penetrating it has transformed him into a work of art/treasure/monument.

Question 28

“true fiction”

Answer 28

“true fiction” - oxymoron suggests that unlike a story, his anguish is real and links to the
“ugliness of death” to convey his horror and anger regarding his fundamental belief in the reality of the situation.

Question 29

“ugliness of death”

Answer 29

“ugliness of death” to convey his horror and anger regarding his fundamental belief in the reality of the situation.

Question 30

“sad music”

Answer 30

“sad music” sums up the central idea about the pervasive nature of grief and despair. The pessimistic ending highlights the all-consuming nature of grief
and how it remains forever with him.

Question 31

Form and structure

Answer 31

This poem is written in free verse. Like all of MacCaig’s poetry, the themes and central ideas are readily accessible through conversational style and simple language.

• Written from a first person stance in the past tense, the poem is divided by stanzas into three main sections:

.
The fluidity and looseness of the structure also helps to reinforce the key message of the poem which focuses on death and the grieving process.
Death of a loved one itself represents a formlessness, a loss of structure, the disintegration of close bonds of love and affection. Hence the poet reflects on this in the way he constructs the poem

Question 32

First stanza structure

Answer 32

• In the first stanza, the speaker introduces the subject of his meditation, the death of a loved one.

Question 33

Second stanza structure

Answer 33

• In the second he reflects and explores the impact of this painful experience.

Question 34

Final stanza structure

Answer 34

• In the final stanza, he reaches a conclusion of sorts, reiterating the assertion made in the first line - her death is everywhere, ever present

Question 35

“crocus”

Answer 35

Metaphor. These images are, in their way, things of beauty in their constructs of language. MacCaig acknowledges this in the comparison of the way his mind is shaped by them to the way a crocus is carved or shaped by nature.

Question 36

Themes

Answer 36

The central theme of the poem is the sense of unending grief.
Nature

Question 37

the sense of unending grief

Answer 37

that is felt when someone we love dies.

MacCaig creates a tone that is almost nihilistic and utterly hopeless in its despairingly bleak outlook.

Question 38

Nevertheless, there is an occasional glimpse of optimism and beauty (nature)

Answer 38

Nevertheless, there is an occasional glimpse of optimism and beauty contained within the image of the crocus, which is never carved more gently/ than the way her dying/ shapes my mind.This seems to imply one of the abiding effects of his grief is that it will forever and indelibly continue to shape and impact on his creative work.