Poetry Of Departures Flashcards
1
Q
“Sometimes you hear, fifth hand, as epitaph:”
A
- Juxtaposition between the formal language and colloquialisms : used to mock society
- Parenthesis used to negate meaning, lack of substance to its claim and critiques the idea of gossip, reduces the reliability of the claim therefore criticising those who wish to leave society
- Tone : undermining and degrading
2
Q
“He chucked up everything and just cleared off”
A
- Italics : reiterate the gossip through colloquialisms emphasising those who engage as inferior and insubordinate
- Tone : condescending and disapproving
- Motif of carelessness, rash decision
3
Q
“Always the voice will sound certain you approve”
A
- Personification : emphasises the views of society, all-sounding and inescapable
- Mutual agreeable to leave but no one actually does emphasising the passivity and naivety of society
- Confining and definitive showing a disregard for other opinion
4
Q
“This audacious, purifying, elemental move”
A
- Asyndetic listing: emphasises the great extent of the decision made through the elongation of the sentence
- Eloquence and verbosity of the sentence furthers the decision
- Parallels the speech of society undermining the colloquialisms
- Tone : sarcastic and diminishing as the change is unrealistic as without society life is worthless
- Primitive, powerful and yet basic decision to be made
5
Q
“And they are right, I think”
A
- Monosyllabic : contradiction of thoughts and contemplative, simplistic gives a sense of certainty
- Caesura separates the speaker from society presenting himself as the ‘Less Deceived’
6
Q
“We all hate home and having to be there”
A
- Collective : emphasising all of society’s views, universal experience
- Ironic : a place of comfort and protection, presents a lack of choice for individuals
7
Q
“I detest my room, its specially chosen junk, the good books, the good bed, and my life, in perfect order”
A
- Syndetic listing and anaphoric repetition : emphasises the monotonous and repetitive lifestyle that the speaker shows hatred for
- Antithesis and oxymoron : undermines the value of sentimental items as well as things used for protection and comfort, security and love is undermined
- Life is seen as too pristine and perfect, regimented
8
Q
“Like then she undid her dress or take that you bastard”
A
- Simile + italics : emphasises the dramatic and cinematic experience
- Leaving society is seen as performative and hyperbolic : artificial and unrealistic
- Facetious nature : done for dramatic effect
- Undermines the idea of leaving
9
Q
“Surely I can, if he did?”
A
- Rhetorical question : emphasises the uncertainty of the speaker
- Monosyllabic : reinforcing others views as their own, robotic in conformity
- Creates a sense of uncertainty and contradicts previous views emphasises the conflict in views of the speaker
10
Q
“Swagger the nut-strewn roads, crouch in the fo’c’sle stubbly with goodness”
A
- Self delusion emphasises the speakers return to the common place and reality
- Demolishes the illusionary idea of clearing off which makes no sense
- Colloquialisms undermines it
11
Q
“If it werent so artificial, such a deliberate step backwards”
A
- Conditional : emphasises that both options are unrealistic
- Regressive nature of society critiques societal expectations and views
- Escapism undermined
12
Q
“Books; china; a life reprehensible perfect”
A
- Antithesis : perfection is condemned and criticised
- Creates final uncertainty of the speakers views furthered by the caesura
- Ordinary mundane items that represent luxury and wealth are undermined
- Tone : uncertain
13
Q
STRUCTURE
A
- Structural parallelism of italics in both stanzas emphasise the lack of progression in societal views
- Repeated octain : rigid, irreversible nature of life
14
Q
CONTEXT
A
- Societal Expecations of conformity
- The Movement : anti-romantic, witty and sardonic
- “Everyday things are lovely to me” - Larkin 1981
