Poetry of the Decade Quotes Flashcards
“My mother was the _______ queen.” (Material)
hanky
What technique is used in the quote “My mother was the hanky queen?” (Material)
metaphor
What is the significance of the metaphor used in “My mother was the hanky queen?” (Material)
The metaphor presents the mother as a down-to-earth admired figure.
“when _______ meant a thing of cloth not paper tissues bought in ______.” (Material)
hanky, packs
“late night __________ and _______.” (Material)
garages, shops
“things for waving out of ________.” (Material)
trains
How is the modern world presented in “paper tissues bought in packs from late night garages and shops, in comparison to when “hanky meant a thing of cloth…..but things for waving out of trains?” (Material)
The juxtaposition suggests that he modern world is presented as temporary, insignificant and generic, in contrast to the more romantic, meaningful past.
“spittled and _________ against my face.” (Material)
scrubbed
What technique is used in the quote “spittled and scrubbed against my face?” (Material)
sibilant verbs
How does the quote “spittled and scrubbed against my face,” present the mother as? (Material)
the sibilant verbs present the mother as practical and hands on
“as if she had a ______ up there.” (Material)
farm
What technique is used in the quote “as if she had a farm up there,” and what does this suggest about the mother? (Material)
the simile presents the mother as a nurturing and loving figure
“greengrocer _______ with his _______ foot.” (Material)
George, dodgy
“and the _________ butcher.” (Material)
friendly
“Mrs White….taught us…..from a _________ out of _____ piano.” (Material)
stumbling, tune, piano
What technique is used in the poem “Material” to describe the townspeople? (“greengrocer George,” “Mrs White.”) (Material)
proper nouns
What is the significance of proper nouns being used in the quotes “greengrocer George with his dodgy foot,” and “Mrs White.” (Material)
The names of places and people, make the past world seem more significance and personal and less generic. It is also an imperfect world which makes it seem more charming.
“Nostalgia only makes me ____.” (Material)
old
Why does the speaker suggest that “Nostalgia only makes me old?” (Material)
The speaker bluntly realises that romanticising the past is pointless as it leaves her in the past. She also accepts that she bears responsibility for these changed traditions.
“killed in TV ________.” (Material)
lassitude
“eat bought ________.” (Material)
biscuits
What is the significance of the speaker saying “killed in TV lassitude and it was me that turned it on….and eat bought biscuits?” (Material)
The speaker also bears responsibility for these changed traditions.
“There’s never a ________ up my sleeve.” (Material)
hanky
What does the quote “There’s never a hanky up my sleeve,” contrast? (Material)
It contrasts the quote “My mother was the hanky queen,” as the speaker accepts that she is a different type of mother in a different world.
“their ____ and hidden history.” (Material)
soft
How is the past presented in “their soft and hidden history?” (Material)
It is more evocative and romantic
“____ it isn’t mine.” (Material)
But
What technique is used in the quote “But it isn’t mine?” (Material)
volta
What is suggested about the speaker when she says “But it isn’t mine?” (Material)
The volta suggests that the speaker accepts that she must move on from her longing for the more meaningful past.
“they were crippled or ____ or girls.” (The Deliverer)
dark
What technique is used in the quote “they were crippled or dark or girls,” and what is the effect of this? (The Deliverer)
the blunt listing conveys how they are reduced to a single characteristic that they can’t control
“Found _______ in the street.” (The Deliverer)
naked
“Covered in _________, stuffed in ______, abandoned at their __________.” (The Deliverer)
garbage, bags, doorstep
What technique is used in the quote “covered in garbage, stuffed in bags, abandoned at their doorsteps?” (The Deliverer)
tricolon/listing
What is the effect of the tricolon in the quote “covered in garbage, stuffed in bags, abandoned at their doorsteps?” (The Deliverer)
It shows how the children are treated brutally and inhumanely.
“dug up by a ____.” (The Deliverer)
dog
What technique is used in the quote “dug up by a dog?” (The Deliverer)
plosive alliteration
What is the effect of the plosive alliteration in the quote “dug up by a dog?” (The Deliverer)
It emphasises that the children are alsmost sees as inferior to animals.
“one of _____,” “bone or ______,” “something to _____,” “this is the ____.” (The Deliverer)
them, wood, chew, one
What is the impact of the vague language in “one of them,” “this is the one?” (The Deliverer)
It suggests how the children are deprived of any form of identity.
“Don’t know of her _______ for plucking hair off hands, or how her mother tried to _____ her.” (The Deliverer)
fetish, bury
Why does the speaker abruptly return to the reminder of “how her mother tried to bury her?” (The Deliverer)
It is a stark reminder of her brutal origins, which juxtaposes the joy and love that defines this scene.
“But they are _______. We couldn’t stop ________.” (The Deliverer)
crying
What is tne significance of the “crying” that takes place at Milwaukee Airport? (The Deliverer)
The outburst of emotion happens in the US, suggesting that women in India can’t afford to feel or confront their experiences.
“The girl grows up on _______ tapes.” (The Deliverer)
video
What technique is used in the quote “the girl grows up on video tapes?” (The Deliverer)
metaphor
What is the purpose of the metaphor in “the girl grows up on video tapes?” (The Deliverer)
the metaphor is for the girl revisiting suppressed memories of her troubled youth.
“outside village __________.” (The Deliverer)
boundaries
What is significant about the quote “outside village boundaries?” (The Deliverer)
it suggests that what is taking place is transgressive and must be hidden from sight.
“where mothers go out to ________ life.” (The Deliverer)
squeeze
What technique is used in the quote “where mothers go out to squeeze life?” (The Deliverer)
pun
What is the significance of the pun used in “where mothers go out to squeeze life?” (The Deliverer)
the pun describes how the mother takes and gives life.
“trudge home to lie down for their ____ again.” (The Deliverer)
men
What is the significance of the last line in the poem The Deliverer which says “Trudge home to lie down for their men again?” (The Deliverer)
The final monosyllabic line, suggests that this a blunt destiny to be repeated.
“After the fair, I’d still a ______ heart.” (The Lammas Hireling)
light
What is suggested about the speaker having “a light heart,” after the fair? (The Lammas Hireling)
Both the fair and speaker’s light heart initially suggest a tone of happiness and celebration.
“cattle ______ on him.” “yields ______.” (The Lammas Hireling)
doted, doubled
What does the quotes “cattle doted on him,” and “yields doubled,” suggest about the hireling? (The Lammas Hireling)
The language implies the hirelings unusual affinity with the animals, hinting at his inhuman identity.
How is the hireling presented in the first stanza? (The Lammas Hireling)
He has an unusual affinity with the animals
“I grew fond of _________ that knew when to ____ up.” (The Lammas Hireling)
company, shut
What is the technique used in the quote “I grew fond of company that knew when to shut up?” (The Lammas Hireling)
juxtaposition
What is suggested through the juxtaposition used in the quote “I grew fond of company that knew when to shut up?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the juxtaposition between two sentiments, emphasised by enjambment suggests that the speaker is a man of emotional sudden changes.
“disturbed from _____ of my dear late _____.” (The Lammas Hireling)
dreams, wife
What is the technique used in the quote “disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife?” (The Lammas Hireling)
plosive alliteration
What is the effect of the plosive alliteration used in the quote “disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife?” (The Lammas Hireling)
it signals a change to a darker, more violent tone
“his ___ form.” “ the light from the ______ lantern.” (The Lammas Hireling)
pale, dark
What is the technique used in the quotes “his pale form,” “the light from the dark lantern?” (The Lammas Hireling)
juxtaposition
What is the effect of the juxtaposition in the quote “his pale form,” “the light from the dark lantern?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the juxtaposition between light and dark reprsents the poem’s broader uncertainty where the truth is shifting and unconcealed.
“the moon came out. By its yellow ________.” (The Lammas Hireling)
witness
What is the technique used in the quote “the moon came out. By its yellow witness?” (The Lammas Hireling)
personification
What is the effect of the personification in the quote “the moon came out. By its yellow witness?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the moon is personified as a force of judgement conveying how the speaker has transgressed the natural world
“Then one _______.” (The Lammas Hireling)
night
What is the significance of the end of the first stanza where it shifts to “then one night?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the shift in time presents a change in tone, suggesting that dark deeds are hidden from the light.
“But spend my nights casting ball from ___-_______.” (The Lammas Hireling)
half-crowns
What is suggested about the speaker when he spends his nights “casting ball from half-crowns?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the once money-obsessed speaker now uses coins to make ammunition- similar to the hireling we see a transformation
“Bless me, Father for I have ______, It has been an hour since my last _________.” (The Lammas Hireling)
sinned, confession
What does the speaker seem to do in the last line “Bless me, Father for I have sinned, It has been an hour since my last confession?” (The Lammas Hireling)
the speaker now seems to obsessively confess and seek some form of absolution
What does the hireling turn into in the second stanza? (The Lammas Hireling)
a hare
What does the speaker do to the hireling in the third stanza? (The Lammas Hireling)
The speaker shoots the hireling as it transforms into a hare.
“All of us came in Doctor _______ bag.” (Out Of The Bag)
Kerlin’s
“those nosy, ____, big soft hands of his.” (Out Of The Bag)
What is suggested by the speaker describing the doctor’s hands as “nosy, rosy, big?” (Out Of The Bag)
the simplicity of this view is reiterated by the nursery rhyme description
“Then like a _________, unwinding us, he’d wind the instruments.” (Out Of The Bag)
hypnotist
What technique is used in the quote “Then like a hypnotist unwinding us, he’d wind the instruments?” (Out Of The Bag)
simile
How does the speaker present Doctor Kerling in the quotation “Then like a hypnotist unwinding us, he’d wind the instruments?” (Out Of The Bag)
as having magical powers and mystical, he also seems to have power and control over others.
“fur-lined ______ collar,” “waistcoat _______.” (Out Of The Bag)
leather, satin
How does the speaker present Doctor Kerlin in the quotes “fur-lined leather collar,” and “waistcoat satin?” (Out Of The Bag)
the luxurious materials that Kerlin is dressed in presents him as a figure from a wealthier, more middle class world.
“______ of tiles, steel hooks, chrome surgery tools.” (Out Of The Bag)
chill
What technique is used in the quote “chill of tiles, steel hooks, chrome surgery tools?” (Out Of The Bag)
semantic field
What is the effect of the semantic field in the quote “chill of tiles, steel hooks, chrome surgery tools?” (Out Of The Bag)
the semantic field is defined by coldness and sterility, suggesting it is a harsh environment.
“a toe, a foot, and shin, an ____, a cock.”
arm
What technique is used in the quote “a toe, a foot, and shin, an arm, a cock?” (Out Of The Bag)
listing
What is the effect of the listing in the quote “a toe, a foot, and shin, an arm, a cock?” (Out Of The Bag)
the listing of body parts, presents creation of new life in a more brutal, pragmatic way
What do the references to the different figures and places in the second part suggest about the speaker? (Peter Levli, Asclepius, Lourdes) (Out Of The Bag)
the various references presents a shift to the perspective of a more knowledgeable, adult figure.
“A site of _________.” (Out Of The Bag)
incubation
What are the two types of incubation that the speaker is referring to? (Out Of The Bag)
- equipment to help a weak baby
- a ritual where Asclepius visits you in your sleep (dreams) and heals you
What are the two differing types of incubation a presentation of? (Out Of The Bag)
the modern and classical idea of healing
What is Lourdes? (Out Of The Bag)
a famous Catholic shrine in France, where the faithful go in hope of a cure
What is the speaker referring to when he talks about a time he “nearly fainted from the heat and fumes, again I nearly fainted?” (Out Of The Bag)
The speaker remembers a time, where experiencing the same heat, he fainted, the speaker connects the two events in Greece and Lourdes and the past. The blurring of past and present and hallucination and ancient is the poems exploration of faith and healing etc.
“index finger ___- faced men,” “with _______-spots in a straight line down their fronts.” (Out Of The Bag)
dot, button
What does the speaker suggest when he describes Doctor Kerling in the second part with “index finger dot-faced men,” and “with button-spots in a straight line down their fronts?” (Out Of The Bag)
the speaker is suggesting child wonder is always there, however it is articulated in different ways as we learn to repress or translate it for the adult world.
“bits of the ______ I pulled, I posted off to one going in to chemotherapy.” (Out Of The Bag)
grass
Why does the speaker post of “Bits of the grass?” (Out Of The Bag)
it suggests that posting off the grass from Ancient Greece is believed to be a form of faith and healing, much like visiting Lourdes
“By _______, his daughter.” (Out Of The Bag)
Hygeia
Who was Hygeia? (Out Of The Bag)
The daughter of Asclepius, and the goddess of cleanliness. Also where the word “hygiene” derives from.
“the undarkening ______.” (Out Of The Bag)
door
How does the undarkening door contrast the start of the poem? (Out Of The Bag)
It juxtaposes Kerlin who “darkens the door.”
“the _____ I came from and the rest of us all came from.” (Out Of The Bag)
room
Why does the speaker repeat the words “again and again,” and “usual and useful?” (Out Of The Bag)
the repetition of words bring a tone of resolution and coming together.
“whisper of _____.” (Out Of The Bag)
triumph
What is the significance of the last line “whisper of triumph?” (Out Of The Bag)
it forms a dramatic climax- as despite the doctor and his medical knowledge, despite the god Asclepius, despite pilgrimages, triumph belongs to the woman (mother)
“I ___________ these men.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
discovered
Why does the speaker use the word “discovered” when talking about the men on the pier? (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
the speaker suggests that the men are an almost different species, a group of people far removed from the speaker’s world.
What technique is used in the quotes “pier” “paraphernalia?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
plosive alliteration
What is the effect of the plosive alliteration in the quotes “pier” “paraphernalia?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
it conveys the active, intensive nature of the men’s work
What technique is used in the quote “chains, pulleys, cranes, ropes?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
listing
What is the effect of the listing in the quote “chains, pulleys, cranes, ropes?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
the listing of technical terms reinforces the stereotypical ideas associated with masculinity, where males must be hardworking, practical and strong.
“__________ over the water.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
swinging
What is the technique used in the quote “swinging over the water?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
enjambment
Why might the speaker have used enjambment in the quote “swinging over the water?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
it captures the movement of the pile, and reiterates the difficulty of the men’s job. However, it could also hint at the fact that the speakers identity regarding his gender has been nudged from comfort after seeing the powerful men.
Why does the speaker repeat the word “men?”(From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
It creates a distance between the speaker and the workmen, even though the speaker is a man, he is isolated and different from them
“Let go,” or “Hold tight,” all ____________.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
monosyllables
What is the technique used in the quotes “Let go,” or “Hold tight?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
monosyllables
What is the effect of the monosyllables used in the quotes “Let go,” or “Hold tight?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
the monosyllabic imperatives accentuate the blunt nature of the men. They speak not to be friendly, but to convey concrete information which reinforces their hard masculine identities.
How does the speaker view the men through the quotes “obscure movements,” “I cannot say what,” “secret problem?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
the speaker is perhaps fascinated by the men, but unable to understand them or their work.
“Every one of the _________ was silent on the subject.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
monsters
What technique is used in the quote “Every one of the monsters was silent on the subject?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
metaphor
What is the significance of the metaphor used in the quote “Every one of the monsters was silent on the subject?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
it could suggest that the speaker is intimidated by the men, suggesting that they belong to another world.
“to gaze down like a ______ into the water.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
mystic
What technique is used in the quote “to gaze down like a mystic into the water?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
simile
What is suggested through the simile used in the quote “to gaze down like a mystic into the water?” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
i will ask matt about this.
“That left the pile still in ___-___, and me of course.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
mid air
What is suggested through the quote “That left the pile still in mid-air, and me of course.” (From The Journal of A Disappointed Man)
i will ask matt about this.
“This is the future, my ____ says.” (Please Hold)
wife
Which techniques are used to present the wife as being almost robot-like? (Please Hold)
through repetition and monosyllabic language
Which words are repeated by the speaker to present the wife as robot-like? (Please Hold)
“wonderful” “great”
“(which is really the _______ account)” (Please Hold)
robot’s
What structural technique is used in the quote “(which is really the robot’s account?)” (Please Hold)
the parenthesis represents the truth behind a fascade of politeness.
What is the effect of the polysyndeton used in
“Please say Yes or No.
Or you can say Repeat or Menu.
You can say Yes, No, Repeat or Menu,
Or you can say Agent if you’d like to talk?” (Please Hold)
The repetition of the conjuction ‘or’ creates an illusion of choic, however the speaker is just trapped in an endless cycle.
“I ______ Agent!” (Please Hold)
scream
How is the speaker’s changing emotion conveyed in the quote “I scream Agent!”? (Please Hold)
this highlights the speaker’s escalating frustration, which contrastss the robot’s faux/insincere politeness.
What is ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik?’ (Please Hold)
a piece of classical music by Mozart
What is the significance of one of Mozart’s most famous compositions becoming a piece of generic ‘on hold’ music? (Please Hold)
it shows how human achievements service technology and they have been reduced to something meaningless and irritating
What vision of the future is presented towards the end of Please Hold “for all your accomplishments,
the only way you can now meet your needs
is by looting?” (Please Hold)
a dark, dystopian future where the grip of modern technology can only challenged through some form of anarchy/rebellion
What is significant about the ending of Please Hold? (Please Hold)
the pretend politeness disappears and the fascade is dropped once authority is gained, it is in the voice of the robot, which shows how technology ultimately overpowers humans and is inescapable.
“My mother could not bear being ______.”
blind
What technique is used in the quote “bear being blind?”
plosive alliteration
What is the impact of the plosive alliteration in the quote “bear being blind?”
blunt, forceful tone instantly introduces the harsh nature of her illness
“bear it like a ________.”
Roman
What technique is used in the quote “bear it like a Roman?”
simile
What does the speaker suggest through the simile “bear it like a Roman?”
it suggests that facing illness is often a test of strength and courage
“in a _______ restaraunt, still not finding the food on her plate.”
Paris
What is the significance of the line “in a Paris restaraunt, still not finding the food on her plate?”
Paris is a place of romance which juxtaposes her bleak reality- not being able to eat properly
