Norman MacCaig Visiting Hour Flashcards
Practice for prelim exam
“i will not feel, I will not feel, until i have to.”
- Repetition
- Enjambment (The continuation of a line of poetry
without a break) - Knows what is coming and that he will have to see
her, no matter how much it pains him/ no escape - talking himself into it, protecting himself
“ward 7.”
- This tells us he has arrived
- This suggests that he might be pulling himself
together, before he faces the unknown.
“she lies in a white cave of forgetfulness”
- start of line there is a thing called caesura, its when you start a new line in a poem when its not needed. this therefor puts emphasis on the fact she is lying down.
- Suggests she is isolated,not well tuned in, distant,
- suggests she has some sort of memory problem.
- white is bright, so are industrial hospital lighting, brightness is blinding as too she seems dazed.
- Look at lines 1—10. Show how MacCaig feels about his hospital visit, referring to
two examples of language.
marks- 1 piece of information (1)
2 pieces of information (2)
3 pieces of information (3)
4 piece of information (4)
Look at lines 11—18. Referring to two examples, explain how MacCaig uses poetic
techniques to reveal his attitude towards the nurses.
marks- 1 piece of information (1)
2 pieces of information (2)
3 pieces of information (3)
4 piece of information (4)
Look at lines 19—30. By referring to two examples of the poet’s use of language,
explain how he makes clear the patient’s condition.
marks- 1 piece of information (1)
2 pieces of information (2)
3 pieces of information (3)
4 piece of information (4)
MacCaig often uses imagery in his poems. Referring closely to this poem and at
least one other poem by MacCaig, show how he uses imagery effectively.
try to label at least 1 other poem, but visiting hour is similar to Assisi when talking about grief and guilt,the divide between the well and unwell, Aunt Julia when he cant communicate but is trying.
although aunt Julia is a weak example
