Originally Flashcards
What’s your first quote for ‘Love’?
“I want our country, I said.”
Explain, “I want our country, I said.”
The word choice of ‘our’ sounds possessive, like the speaker is clinging to her home country
What’s your first quote for ‘Change’?
“But then you forget, or don’t recall, or change”
Explain, “But then you forget, or don’t recall, or change”
The word choice of ‘but’ reveals a change, and the list helps emphasise the loss the speaker feels of her culture
What’s your second quote for ‘Change’?
“feel only a skelf of shame”
Explain, “feel only a skelf of shame”
The word ‘skelf’ is a Scottish word which refers to a splinter meaning that the speaker feels slightly embarrassed that she has lost her culture
What’s your third quote for ‘Change’?
“my tongue - shedding its skin like a snake”
Explain, “my tongue - shedding its skin like a snake”
The simile expresses the idea of the speaker losing her accent like an animal sheds its skin, which is a painful process for an animal
What’s your fourth quote for ‘Change’?
“big boys - eating worms and shouting words you don’t understand”
Explain, “big boys - eating worms and shouting words you don’t understand”
The strangeness of the sentence expresses the isolation the speaker feels and the word choice of ‘big boys’ creates a feeling of intimidation
What’s your fifth quote for ‘Change’?
“All childhood is emigration”
Explain, “All childhood is emigration”
The word choice ‘emigration’ expresses the changes that occur when you’re younger feel more like your moving countries
What’s your sixth quote for ‘Change’?
“Others are sudden.”
Explain, “Others are sudden.”
The short, abrupt sentence emphasises the shock of this change to the speaker
What’s your first quote for ‘Contrast’?
“seeing your brother swallow a slug”
Explain, “seeing your brother swallow a slug”
This line tells us that the speaker’s brother is now fully used to the change and the alliteration of ‘s’ creates a fluid sound showing how easy it is
What’s your first quote for ‘Identity’?
“And I hesitate.”
Explain, “And I hesitate.”
The final abrupt sentence emphasises the speaker’s uncertainty as she is unsure of her origins and her belonging
What’s your second quote for ‘Identity’?
“eyes of a blind toy”
Explain, “eyes of a blind toy”
The word choice ‘blind’ shows the speaker’s uncertainty about what will come from this change
What’s your first quote for ‘Emotional Conflict’?
“our mother singing - our father’s name”
Explain, “our mother singing - our father’s name”
The happiness of the mother contrasts with the sadness of the children’s emotions
What’s your second quote for ‘Emotional Conflict’?
“anxiety stirred like a loose tooth”
Explain, “anxiety stirred like a loose tooth”
The simile shows that the anxiety of moving is in the background, as there’s always a nagging sensation
What’s your first quote for ‘Loss’?
“I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space and the right place?”
Explain, “I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space and the right place?”
The list emphasises the importance of what the speaker has lost, and the question highlights the speaker’s uncertainty
