Originally Flashcards
“We came from our own”
Personal pronouns also identifying possession
“Red room”
Car/train, mode of transport which is distancing them from their home
“Which fell through the fields”
Metaphor implying the hilly and country side nature of their home setting
“Our mother singing our father’s name to the turn of the wheels”
Character’s family is present creating the idea of potential happiness and joy
“My brothers cried, one of them bawling”
Contrast to the happy scene we encountered at first.
“Bawling” - use of Scots dialect, geographical
“Home, home”
Repetition creates emphasis, emphasises sadness and want to return home, to her place of safety, security, memories, happiness and familiarity
“The street, the house, the vacant rooms”
List from largest size to smallest implying the growing distance and movement of the vehicle, just as things get smaller as you get further away
“We didn’t live anymore”
First person plural emphasises that although the poem is written from her own perspective she very clearly considers the impact of the move as something that affects all of the family and not just her
“I stared at the eyes of a blind toy”
Exposes her uncertainty and anxiety as they head towards something unknown and unfamiliar.
“Blind toy” - transferred epithet and metaphor. Contrast as she is silent but the rest of her family are making noise
“All childhood is an emigration”
Entire meaning of the poem, highlights the metaphorical and literal journey of life. Literally, moving house and country. Metaphorically, growing up and changing
“Some are slow, leaving you standing, resigned, up an avenue where no one you know stays”
Length of sentence, punctuation creates pauses adding to the length of time it takes to say further contributing to the passage of time in life and how some people take longer to mature and develop. Creates idea of loneliness and isolation and the character’s confusion.
“Others are sudden”
Short sentence emphasising that some people grow up faster and mature quicker, and that for some life is fast
“Your accent wrong”
Another short sentence showing that immediately, she does not fit in
“Corners, which seem familiar, leading to unimagined pebble-dashed estates, the big boys eating worms and shouting words you don’t understand”
Idea of boys being disgusting, different accent and a completely different area and look than what she’s used to
“My parent’s anxiety stirred like a loose tooth”
Simile comparing the parents’ anxiety to loose teeth implies the transition of losing baby teeth and growing adult teeth, symbolises growing up, a milestone of childhood. Implies she was young when the move took place
