Mrs Tilschers Class Flashcards
Key themes in Mrs Tilscher’s Class
- Loss (loss of innocence people experience as they grow up)
- Change (a change in how the speaker views the world)
“travel… Nile”
Stanza 1
IMAGERY - Metaphor compare growing up to an adventure along the nile
STRUCTURE - Long sentence mirrors the long journey through childhood
“skittle of milk”
Stanza 1
IMAGERY - Metaphor compares milk bottles to bowling, fun and excitement of the day with Mrs Tilscher
“laugh of a bell”
Stanza 1
Projection of the child’s laughter creates a happy and uplifting atmosphere, a carefree world is established where children can grow
“glowed… sweet shop”
Stanza 2
IMAGERY - similie shows temptation, wonder and joy which triggers interest and imagination
“brady and hindley”
Stanza 2
IMAGERY - Juxtaposition of Moors murderers adds a sense of safety/peace, the classroom erases fear
Can also begin to show growth as the speaker is aware of murder
“Sugar paper. Coloured shapes.”
Stanza 2
WORD CHOICE - Sugar and colour associate things in the classroom with positive emotions (sweet and colourful)
“commas into exclamation marks”
Stanza 3
IMAGERY - metaphor represents children growing up, small and timid to loud and prominent
“jumping and croaking”
Stanza 3
WORD CHOICE - jumping and croaking are actions of a frog, represents boys’ voices breaking through as they grow
“rough boy”
Stanza 3
WORD CHOICE - Rough shows the boy has grown up, told her how she was born (other people around her are growing up and so is she)
“feverish”
Stanza 4
WORD CHOICE - illness suggests an uncomfortable, flustered or exciting time
“tasted of electricity”
Stanza 4
IMAGERY - metaphor of air being electric can show danger approaching but also a restless excitement for adolescence
“reports were handed out”
Stanza 4
TONE - matter of fact, Mrs Tilscher is fulfilling the duties of an ordinary teacher and the speaker is shown reality, she isn’t a shelter from reality anymore
“sky split open”
Stanza 4
IMAGERY - metaphor of breakdown of innocence, lost in a way that cannot be fixed
