Personal Helicon S.H Flashcards
Quotes and analysis
“trapped sky” “I loved”
Metaphor, conveying the immense size and power of the sky. Highlighting the speakers childlike awe at how it can be ‘trapped’ in a well. ‘I loved’ shows connection.
“a white face hovered”
Creates a ghost-like image in a place that used to bring comfort and joy contrasts with a mysterious and scary presence of the ghost. Suggests that childhood is not as pleasant as it appears.
“fructified like any aquarium”
Word choice at start suggests fruitful and luscious, ‘aquarium’ links to natural world and implies that the speakers mind is teeming with life and ideas.
“so deep you saw no reflection in it”
The use of personal pronoun involves the reader and makes it more personal, also suggests that there is something new down the well and the speaker does not know it yet. Highlights uncertainty with adulthood.
“a rat slapped across my reflection”
Shows the poets childhood fear of rats, includes discovering something frightening about yourself when getting older. Made vivid through onomatopoeia, gives his reflection a level of physicality.
“to stare, big eyed Narcissus”
Referring to the myth of Narcissus (cursed to fall in love with himself and only look at his reflection), indicates that his previous way of looking at himself has changed. He previous way was indulgent and vain, like Narcissus.
