National Trust

Question 1

The Title

Answer 1

National Trust- ironic because due to the banning of Cornish, there is a lack of trust that they wont plot against them. You should also be able to trust upholders of law and order, however here we cant, criticism of society.

Question 2

Significance of bottomless pits/depth

Answer 2

Physically showing the levels between the upper and lower classes. Clear representation of hierarchy. Plosive sounds- lack of hope.
Coal mines produce money, bottomless bits can refer to bottomless pits of money.
Could be emotional or physical

Question 3

Cavern in Castleton

Answer 3

They are being forgotten about, out of sight out of mind.
Could be seen as the gap between classes “castle” - upper class. “Ton” lower class.

Question 4

“Hush hush” - silence.

Answer 4

Silence/secrecy suggests the depth of the crime they are committing.

Question 5

Naming Castleton and Towanroath

Answer 5

More realistic- specific people and locations.
Switch between south and north, emphasises how it is a NATIONAL problem.

Question 6

“One day”

Answer 6

Shows the mistreatment is a regular occurrence.

Question 7

Borrowed a convict

Answer 7

The convict is a belonging to be used and borrowed. Makes themselves seem less criminal as they are going to return him afterwards.

Question 8

“Winched him down;and back, flayed, grey, mad, dumb.

Answer 8

Stressed syllables, slows it down, more focus. Detailed description.

Question 9

Gentlemen

Answer 9

Irony as the gentlemen is supposed to be respectful and noble. Gentle is ironic as they are the opposite with the prisoner.

Question 10

Booming shaft and contrasting silence

Answer 10

Contrasts- money speaks louder than people. Exploitation of working man to make profit.

Question 11

Structure

Answer 11

16 line meredithian sonnet

Question 12

2 sonnets

Answer 12

Change of perspective, criticising abuse of power and colonialism. Britains corrupt system.

Question 13

‘The depths of Britain dangling a scholar’

Answer 13

Better to use a scholar as they are better educated.
This refers to Harrison- personal experience but also has a voice

Question 14

Killed the language they swore in

Answer 14

They banned Cornish, they worried about them plotting up against them.
Lack of trust

Question 15

Not one gentlemen’s been brought to book

Answer 15

Shows how they have not been held accountable for their actions. Abuse of power

Question 16

Cornish line at the end

Answer 16

Harrison giving a voice to the silenced. Brings language back to life but no one reading understands it, forced to translate it back into the language of the oppressors.
Disrupts by not using standard english