Red Roses Flashcards
Context on Anna sexton
Abusive childhood
Committed suicide
Child committed suicide
Diagnosed with depression
When do we find out that not all is as it seems
When she throws him across the room, contradicts the innocence presented in the first lines and the reader begins to understand these are mechanisms covering the abuse
How is the abuse done
Uses other items and the child is absorbed in the delusion he is dancing
Tommy has childhood tendencies to try and explain away the abuse through rationalisation and childish comparisons
What happens when he goes to the doctors
Tommy knows something isn’t right as he wouldn’t be afraid to say they were dancing, the reader must face reality that tommy on some level knew he was deluding himself but loves his mum to much
What is an euphemism
The red roses is an euphemism for the blood and cuts
How has the meaning of red roses changed
Was a symbol of love and affection but is now a symbol of danger and blood
Is their a rhyme scheme
There is no predictive rhyme scheme as is is echoing Tommy’s childhood as he is not ordinary.
There is enjambment showing the abuse is endless
What could the diamond be symbolising
The women’s ring and perhaps she and the father have a bad relationship and is taking it out on the child
2 quotes that show childhood
“Broken scarecrow”
“Twisted like a liquorice stick”
What did the boy tell the doctor
“I fell”
What does the reader want to do when he goes to the doctors
Want to encourage him to speak up, the lady there juxtaposes his mother. He says I fell out of fear of being sent away
Quote showing he wants to please her
“He pretends he is her ball”
Quote showing his cuts
“He gets red roses in different places”
Quote showing he loves his mother
“He loves the blue lady and the spots of red red roses he gives her “
Quote showing he got knocked out
“As sleepy as a river “
