Set Text, Glasgow Sonnet I

Question 1

‘a mean wind’

Answer 1

-imagery, personafication
-vindictive, strong gust. unpleasant, not nice, cold
-out to do harm, not nice atmosphere

Question 2

‘wanders’

Answer 2

-word choice
-lack of things to do, lacking purpose or direction
-walking around aimlessly

Question 3

‘backcourt trash’

Answer 3

-word choice
-shows that the place hasn’t been kept well, unclean, disregarded
-rubbish, uncared for, rubbish piling up everywhere

Question 4

‘hackles on puddles rise’

Answer 4

-imagery, metaphor
-hackles are a muscles on a dog that puff up when they get angry
-something that is ready to attack, a warning, aggressive
-whole environment is unwelcoming

Question 5

‘old mattresses puff briefly and subside’

Answer 5

-imagery, metaphor
-replicate the motion of human breathing
-the feeling of a last dying breath, the feeling of it being alive, lived in

Question 6

‘play-fortress’

Answer 6

-word choice
-childish make believe, lets pretend, kids games
-even the games had a hint of violence and protection (fortress) made out of rubbish

Question 7

‘brick and bric-a-brac’

Answer 7

-sound, alliteration
-has a harsh sound which reflects a scolding sound
-shows the harsh environment and danger of the atmosphere

Question 8

‘no windows left to smash’

Answer 8

-word choice
-uncared for , neglected, smashed, destroyed
-destroyed, smashed, no money to replace window
-apathy, lack of care, or lack of funds

Question 9

‘buttresses’

Answer 9

-word choice
-its a support for a building
-as if the building is held up by the mother and daughter
-surrounded by the building, centre of the poem (line 7), surrounded by the enviroment almost trapped

Question 10

‘last mistresses’

Answer 10

-word choice
-ownership, respect, power
-tremendous amount of respect even tho they are surrounded by poverty
-irony because they are quite powerless

Question 11

‘condemned’

Answer 11

-imagery, metaphor
-punishment used for criminals condemned to death
-not going to get the relief of being knocked down, sit to rot away

Question 12

‘cracks deepen’

Answer 12

-imagery, metaphor
-decaying, aging, breaking
-the community falling apart, no longer there
-the cracks physically worsening over time

Question 13

‘the rats crawl’

Answer 13

-word choice
-vermin, disgusting, disease
-the apartment becoming inhabitable

Question 14

‘the kettle whimpers’

Answer 14

-imagery, personification
-needs to be cared for, hurt, in pain, needs help
-feeling pity, empathy
-the usual scream of a kettle sounds like a whimper

Question 15

‘crazy hob’

Answer 15

-imagery, metaphor
-uncontrollable, cannot tame, unpredictable
-insane, nothing positive

Question 16

‘roses of mould’

Answer 16

-imagery, metaphor
-roses normally symbolise something beautiful and grow in a circular pattern so does mold
-symbolizing anything beautiful has been replaced with disgusting mold
-nothing is untouched by decay

Question 17

‘ceiling to wall’

Answer 17

-word choice
-filth, grime, disgusting
-the entire flat is covered in dirt and uncleanliness

Question 18

‘letting his coughs fall thinly’

Answer 18

-word choice
-weakness, lacking in strength, tired, sickness
-feeble and weak no willpower to do anything

Question 19

‘air too poor to rob’

Answer 19

-imagery, personification
-nothing of worth, even the air itself is worthless
-everything in the area is unvalued to society

Question 20

What are the theme of Glasgow Sonnet I?

Answer 20

-poverty
-sympathy for the people
-society’s indifference
-hopelessness
-isolation