Originally Flashcards
What is the central theme “Orignally”
Identity - Duffy explores the theme of identity and belonging as she has moved from her home in Scotland and leaving behind her old house, friends and memories. The poem shows her journey of growing up in her new home and progressing through childhood and finding herself.
How does Duffy explore the theme of identity and belonging in the poem?
It explores these themes in stanza 3 as Duffy comes to terms with what her life is now. She has found her identity as she has grown from a child and has matured and feel like she belongs here as she is now familiar with the place, made new friends and her accent has faded into a new one.
What is the central theme of “Originally”
The central theme of Originally is identity.
How does Duffy explore the theme of identity and belonging in the poem?
Duffy explores identity and belonging in the poem when she is moving from her old house in Scotland, to her new home in England. Leaving all her old memories and friends behind from her childhood, then developing into a young woman and finding her true self in her new home.
Describe the speakers feelings and emotions in the poem as they reflect on their past and present
When the speaker reflects on her past she has a sense of anger. This is because she does not want to move and leave everything behind. She is scared of losing her old memories as a child when she starts growing up into adulthood and making new memories. When the speaker reflects on the present she realises that she is confused about where she belongs. At the end of the poem she is asked where she comes from ‘Originally’ but she does not know how to answer. She has accepted that this is her new normality but does not know whether to say that she is from Scotland as she is now settled in England.
How does the poem use imagery and language to convey the sense of loss and displacement?
Imagery is used in the poem when it mentions that her tongue shedded like a snake, suggests that she has lost her Scottish accent and is slowly starting to pick up the accent that people have around her. Language is used when in the poem she uses the word ‘skelf’ which is a Scots dialect which reinforces her Scottish identity.
Analyse the significance of the poems title ‘Originally’
The title suggests the themes of identity and how the speakers slowly loses her Scottish identity and finds her true self, loss as she loses her Scottish accent and starts to fit in with the people around her and mirror their accents and isolation as at first when she moves she stood out amongst everyone because of her accent and she felt isolated as she knew nobody and felt alone.
What literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, can you identify in the poem, and how do they contribute to its meaning?
Metaphor-
‘red room’ - the red room symbolises as the car as it’s travelling to their new home.
‘All childhood is an emigration’ - this is a reflection of childhood and is suggests a constant movement.
Simile-
‘Like a snake’ - the root meaning of snake suggests that they shed when they grow who shows that she is changing and moving on.
Discuss the role of memory and nostalgia in the poem. How do they shape the speakers perspective.
When the speaker lists all the things she has left behind ‘the street, the house, the vacant rooms’ this shows all the memories they had back in their old country.
What is the significance of the final lines of the poem, “All childhood is an emigration. / Some are slow.”
“All childhood is an emigration” the word choice suggests the moving from origin to another “place” - life moves on because of time. It is a declarative sentence which is a reflection of childhood.
“Some are slow” contrasts to “Others are sudden” as it talks about slow and fast. The sentence structure lists clauses which emphasises the drawn out nature of some ‘journeys’.
How might the poem resonate with individuals who have experienced immigration or cultural displacement?
As it talks about not fitting in, not knowing any familiar places or your accent is different. This poem could resonate with them as those how have moved to a different country will experience this kind of treatment.
