Originally Flashcards
“our mother singing our fathers name to the turn of the wheels”
Mothers optimistic mood contrasts with the obvious negativity of Duffy
“Home, Home”
The repetition reinforces the misery and overwhelming sense of loss that she feels during this time
“the miles rushed back”
Suggests a sense of speed and that things are happening out-with her control
“to the city, the street, the house, the vacant rooms”
Use of a list to emphasise how much they have left behind
“blind toy”
Symbolises the position they are in, which is heading into the unknown
“All childhood is an emigration”
Use of a metaphor creates the idea of a journey and the different stages of life
'’Your accent wrong’’
Communication and acceptance is much more complex than just merely speaking the same language
'’Seem…unimagined…don’t understand’’
Word choice conveys sense of confusion and not knowing, suggesting that they don’t feel like they fit in.
'’Like a loose tooth’’
Simile conveys the idea of something irritating, suggesting that the move has bothered the whole family
'’I want our own country’’
Repeats the idea from the opening line, emphasising the idea of belongings/origins
'’Swallow a slug’’
Simple alliteration suggests that this was easy for him
'’Skelf’’
Her backgrounds still stick with her as she continues to use that dialect
'’Shedding its skin like a snake’’
Simile conveys the idea of leaving the old behind and adapting to the new.
'’a river, a culture,… the right place?’’
List emphasises the amount of things that she has lost because of moving
'’Where do you come from? Originally? I ask’’
Two very different questions, asking if where you live is the same as where you came from.
