The Bargain Flashcards
“fast and high”
suggests the relationship isn’t going smoothly / could run into trouble
“You and I”
addresses her lover - encouraging her to remember the memory. though ‘and’ signifies physical togetherness, the use of ‘you and i’ rather than ‘we’ suggests drifting apart, sets a tense mood.
“twitch and fret”
tension, horses are physically ready for something to happen, just as the speaker is waiting for something to go wrong in her relationship
“twitch and fret”
tension, horses are physically ready for something to happen, just as the speaker is waiting for something to go wrong in her relationship
“rubbing the wrong way”
suggests beginnings of discomfort or disagreement between the couple, they are rubbing the wrong way against the crowd but so too her boyfriend may be rubbing her the wrong way (irritating her)
“let fly”
suggests impending violence and conflict, both for the football fans and in the relationship
“looking back, looking forward”
juxtaposition - the speaker feels uncertain about her relationship, she doesn’t know whether to look to the past or to the future.
“beautiful Bakelite Bush”
alliteration - gives lines a upbeat and energetic rhythm, interupting the reflective mood of the previous stanza.
“a beat sing along it’s easy”
deliberate gaps changes the meter of the poem, stallholder speaks in time with the music - suggests happiness and almost musical tone.
“Yes today we’re in love aren’t we?”
the use of the word ‘today’ suggests there are days where they are not in love - the speaker is questioning her love and trying to reassure herself that they are in love.
“splintering”
connotations of splitting and breaking apart - reflects how the speakers relationship is deteriorating.
“wears its hearth on its gable end”
recognises relationship is fractured. faults + history of place make is more appealing. also pun on ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’ contrasting the open nature of glaswegians to the lack of openess in the relationship
“a glint in your flinty northern face again”
she is desperate for reassurance , she only needs 1 moment to believe in the relationship again. ‘flinty’ suggests strength and wisdom but also coldness and unresponsiveness.
“Oh I know it’s cold”
pathetic fallacy - suggests lack of harmony and closeness in the relationship.
“old damp clothes”
clothes have been left out and neglected, almost how the speaker feels within her relationship.
