Storyteller Flashcards
Point 1=
introducing the character storyteller and sets our scene.
Point 2=
illustrates the significance and formation of the storyteller’s stories.
Point 3=
the tone shifts as Lochhead explores what happens the morning after the stories.
Point 1=
“cracked delft”
The word “cracked” suggests being broken, useless, damaged, worthless, worn-out, and neglected. The image of the delft being “cracked” coveys the idea and effect of poverty and the fact that they can’t afford to have it fixed or replaced.
Point 1=
“every last crumb of daylight was salted away”
the word “crumb” illustrates being insignificant minuscule, and meager. By describing the last reminds of the sun light as “crumbs” it shows the value of daylight to them, they await the night, they are escaping their heavy chores, putting it all away in anticipation to the nighttime, they are shifting to the nighttime.
Point 1= “No one could say the stories were useless”
tells us that her stories have a huge purpose, and value. This is her work, it’s what she does. The word “No” is absolute, it creates the effect. Another way she adds motion to this stanza is through the structure, for instance in the first 2 stanzas she uses enjambment. In these two stanzas she uses many action verbs like “salted”, “clacked”, “stitched”, and “pieced”. All of those are action verbs and allows us to visualize the women and the storyteller all working, continuously in this enjambment. The enjambment links all action verbs and ideas together, it creates a flow of ideas that run together. The enjambment creates tension.
Point 1= personal response
Through her description of the storyteller’s home I start to see why these stories could mean so much to them, it makes me feel eager to get to the stories itself.
Point 2=
“it was like spinning”
This simile creates an image of the story being spun together. The word “spinning” creates the idea that she’s done this many time and it has become a routine, it comes naturally. Her words quickly start to spiral into the stories they all love. It creates the effect of weaving things together almost reminding me of magic.
Point 2= “gathering thin air to the singlets strongest thread”.
The image expresses that her stories start from nothing but surely build to an intriguing tale. The image makes us visualize her weaving a story out of her simple words which seems to be the thin air “spinning” it together to form the “strongest thread” which could refer to the plot of the story, arguably the most important feature of a story. “strongest thread” also creates a paradox of something thin that could hold something as strong as the story together.
Point 2=
“she’d have us waiting, held breathe, for the ending we knew by heart”
This image indicates how captivating her storytelling is. She has the ability to make them anxious to what they already know. Heald and Breath being on different lines emphasizes a pause for effect evoked by holding breath. It also creates the effect of suspension as their breath is held and stretched between the lines.
Point 2= Personal response
Those images make me feel nostalgic to the feelings of listening to a story that meant so much to me, and sparks feelings of fantasy, and glee.
Point 3=
“Thin grey washed over flat fields”
The word “grey” suggest bland, lifeless, dull, unclear, and clouded. The word “washed” sparks images of being drenched and soaked. The flat fields might be illustrating that this cycle of doing their chores and tasks is never ending since “flat” illustrates something absolute, lifeless, and lackluster. The fact that the “grey washed” makes the effect that the unaugment of the task takes over their day.
Point 3=
“hung themselves upside down”
This image of “hanging upside down” depicts and compares the stories to bats. It infers that the stories are always present in their minds, but they hide/ disappear during the day. They are more focused with their daily work and the stories become invisible. Only when it’s night it will be free. It forms the effect of mysteries.
Point 3=
“storytellers’ night”.
This image gives the effect of the storyteller being in possession of something crucial and vital as the “night”. She is portrayed as being powerful and the focus of attention from everyone. This line also seems enchanting, mysterious, and otherworldly.
Point 3=
“flew again”
This metaphor forms the image of the stories being free. as flying is associated with being liberated, magic, escaping, liveliness, and joy. It adds to the idea of bats, since bats will soar and truly be alive during the night.
