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