Mrs Tilsher’s Class

Question 1

You

Answer 1

use of second person narration. we all share this experience of learning in primary school. informal narration invites us in.

Question 2

skittle of milk

Answer 2

metaphor. not only helping us visualise the shape of the milk bottle but also associated with games/playing

Question 3

The laugh of a bell

Answer 3

personification. fun,simple times. innocence, bell signifies the start of a school day, breaks, lunch times, all of which are positive for the persona.

Question 4

running child

Answer 4

excitement, thrill of the responsibility and children enjoy being noisy

Question 5

Enthralling

Answer 5

positive, enthusiastic connotations e.g fascinating, immersed with stories

Question 6

The classroom glowed like a sweetshop

Answer 6

simile. a sweetshop is one of the most wonderful things for a child to imagine, so she loves her classroom. bright colours of classroom with children’s pictures is similar to the bright colours of a sweetshop. “glowed” is such a warm and comfortable/safe word

Question 7

good gold star

Answer 7

proof of love emphasised by alliteration. most children put a lot of value on being thought of as “good”, it’s a childlike expression

Question 8

Easter term

Answer 8

passage of time. growing up. this time of year is associated with spring. spring is the time of change.

Question 9

the inky tadpoles changed from commas into exclamation marks

Answer 9

metaphor emphasise the deep black colour of the tadpoles. shape of punctuation mark reflects shape of tadpoles when they emerge and grow. the choice of exclamation marks implies sense of alarm at change that’s happening, the persona is approaching adolescence.

Question 10

A rough boy told you how you were born

Answer 10

facts of life. reproduction. explained by “rough boy” means the information would not have been handled delicately. the word choice about boy implies this was unpleasant

Question 11

kicked him

Answer 11

didn’t want to know. wasn’t ready to know

Question 12

but stared at your parents

Answer 12

she believed him

Question 13

appalled

Answer 13

reality of reproduction/sexual activity is disturbing

Question 14

feverish July

Answer 14

personification. hormones unsettled, the idea of humid weather that is the type to develop into a storm ( the “storm” of adolescence)

Question 15

air tasted of electricity

Answer 15

metaphor continues idea of environment being ready for storm. also a sense of new awareness of being alive, something exciting yet dangerous.

Question 16

A tangible alarm made you always untidy, hot, fractious

Answer 16

turbulent time of early teenage years. internal and external changes. mood swings, restlessness, irritability and uncomfortable in own skin.

Question 17

sexy sky

Answer 17

personification emphasised by alliteration suggest growing sexual awareness. a move away from the childlike expression for earlier in poem

Question 18

the sky split open into a thunderstorm

Answer 18

metaphor emphasised my alliteration. aggressive/violent description suggest a difficult time ahead that is adolescence.

Question 19

Mrs Tilscher loved you.

Answer 19

clear statement. persona doesn’t question it. It’s a fact (personas perspective). she feels secure

Question 20

Brady and Hindley faded, like the faint, uneasy smudge of a mistake.

Answer 20

simile. safe/protected in classroom from evil in the world. so content that your fears aren’t strong in your mind. they are not forgotten but they are in the back of your mind.