Revelation Flashcards
“they called him Bob”
connotations of jolly, friendly, gentle, calm and familiar. yet, the bull is the complete opposite of this (hiding its true nature) the girl looks back on how the name tricked her
“reduce a monster with the charm of a friendly name”
‘charm’ suggests some kind of magic. the girl potentially was being drawn in by the friendliness - and lowered her guard
“threshold of his outhouse”
metaphor - she is moving from innocence to experience, revelations that evil and sexuality exist in the world
“At first, only black and the hot reek of him”
synaesthesia - she can’t see him properly but she can smell, and almost feel his stench. connotations of an unpleasant strong odour, hinting at her discomfort
“then he was immense, his edges merging with the darkness”
she finally sees him - suggesting the power and significance of what she sees, but also the terrifying awe she feels in his presence. ‘darkness’ suggesting evil, mystery and creating a sinister atmosphere
“a big bulk and a roar”
synecdoche - describes bull as a series of powerful movements and details, showing how he is threatening and intimidating
“his eyes swivelled in the great wedge of his tossed head”
metaphor and word choice - distortion of the bulls physical shape suggests there is more here than just a physical bull, but more like an unnatural monster
“his nostrils gaped like wounds”
simile suggestive of violence - fighting anger and attack
“oblivious hens”
these hens contrast the monster inside the barn - innocent of what is inside - as the girl was innocent before she met the bull and became aware. oblivious suggests blissful ignorance and lack of awareness of what the bull represents
“faint and rather festive tinkling”
stereotypically feminine / pleasant words, contrasting the dangerous and aggressive verbs from before.
sensory imagery - the hens only hear a gently clanging and think it is harmless and cheerful : the girl is starting to become aware that there are frightening and dangerous things in the world - her revelation
“Black Mass”
double meaning - bulls undefined massive shape and size but also a satanic ceremony of devil worships, which is hinted at by capitalisation
“antidote and Anti-Christ his anarchy”
repetition of ‘anti’ emphasises that the bull represents the exact opposite of goodness and light. highlighting overall negativity to the bull.
“I had always half-known he existed”
suggests a prior vague understanding of the existence of evil - to which the bull can put a face
“threatened the eggs”
symbols of femininity - are at risk because of the bull, because of evil, because of evil within men. links back to the oblivious hens, linking calmness with femininity
“my pigtails thumping alien on my back”
pigtails are a symbol of childhood and specifically, girlhood. ‘alien’ suggests the girl no longer recognises the symbols of childhood and innocence, she has been forced to grow up by this revelation.
