Originally - Stanza three Flashcards
“But then you forget, or don’t recall or change”
The word choice of “but” suggests a change of direction and that something different has happened. The phrase “you forget it don’t recall” suggests that since the change is so gradual, she doesn’t fully remember
“Seeing your brother swallow a slug”
The sibilante of the “s” creates a soft sound suggesting that the idea is no longer repulsive as it once was. Furthermore suggesting that she is now embracing the change
“Feel only a skelf of shame”
“Skelf” is a scottish word for a splinter which suggests that she still wants to keep her scottish culture in her head and her original identity. The word choice of “skelf” suggests she barely feels any shame at all as it is so small. This tells us she only feels a small amount of disgust suggesting change
“My tongue shedding its skin like a snake”
This an Image. The simile is really effective as it suggests the natural changes that occur as one grows up. She’s leaving childhood into teenage years just as when a snake gets older it loses ur skin. We associate a hiss sound to a snake suggesting her voice and how it sounds had changed now she lives in England. This is further reinforced by “shedding”
“My voice in the classroom sounding just like the rest”
Her new voice allows her to have a new sense of belonging suggesting she now fits in with everyone around her
“Do I only think I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space and the right place?”
This question suggests that she is confused and she’s reflecting on the situation. This list emphasised the scale and variety of how much she has lost out on including geography and the traditions of Scotland. The word “right” suggests the lack of belonging and connection and how she can never feel complete as she wasn’t born on the country she lives in
“Where do you come from”
The question is in italics to emphasise its importance as it’s difficult to answer. It’s a common question strangers ask and when they do she feels a sense of disconnection
“Originally”
We now understand the important of the title as “Originally” suggests a sense of belonging
“And I hesitate”
The minor sentence emphasises that this ain’t an easy question to answer
