The gun - Vicki Feaver

Question 1

Title

Answer 1

• allows for apprehension to build
• negative connotations of violence and death
• integral to events - additional emphasis

Question 2

‘Bringing a gun into a house
changes it.’

Answer 2

• separate from other stanzas, doesn’t fit in the home. changes atmosphere and abrupts normality

Question 3

‘You lay it on the kitchen table,
stretched out like something dead
itself:’

Answer 3

• caesura symbolistic of the abrupt and unpredictable power of a gun
• ironic, the object was created for defence to will

Question 4

‘the long metal barrel
casting a grey shadow
on the green-checked cloth.’

Answer 4

• the gun introduces the power of masculinity and power
• symbolises threat to domestic life

Question 5

‘At first it’s just practice:’

Answer 5

preparation for the real purpose of killing

Question 6

‘trees in the garden.’

Answer 6

represents nature and the gun that disrupts natural because of its power

Question 7

‘Soon the fridge fills with creatures
that have run and flown.’

Answer 7

the pleasure of killing is counterbalanced by the awareness of the brutality of the act

Question 8

‘hands reek of gun oil’

Answer 8

symbolistic of having blood on their hands - violent imagery - addiction created from the gun

Question 9

‘fur and feathers. There’s a spring
in your step; your eyes gleam
like when sex was fresh.’

Answer 9

• animal tone - provoking images of meat
• or could be dehumanising males and females - interpreting the power dynamic between individuals

Question 10

‘A gun brings a house alive.’

Answer 10

• stands alone, ironic because ‘guns’ never bring in life
• provides a new form of power and contributes to the couple’s relationship

Question 11

‘I join in the cooking: jointing’

Answer 11

• a sense of community
• semantic field of action juxtaposes the death of the animals

Question 12

‘slicing, stirring’

Answer 12

use of alliteration creates a hissing sound, the snake could be the gun that is tempting the couple - Adam and Eve

Question 13

‘excited as if the King of Death’

Answer 13

• could highlight the rich and powerful being more advantageous
• masculine power

Question 14

‘stalking
out of winter woods,’

Answer 14

• guns can pursue life
• similar to a predator in the wild pursuing its prey

Question 15

‘sprouting golden crocuses.’

Answer 15

• beautiful and vibrant flowers
• poisonous flowers and are toxic - introduce the appearance vs reality

Question 16

Overall messages

Answer 16

• ideas about the power of humans over nature and different individuals over each other through masculine ideas or societal ranking
• guns are seen more as masculine ideas, the contrast against female imagery could be seen as showing conflict between genders
• theme of conflict, presented through the use of weaponry and death, with this used in the semantic field

Question 17

Structure

Answer 17

• free verse, no rhyme scheme, occasional assonant rhyme
• short stanzas - give writers/ speakers opinions, compared to long stanzas that give obstruction to the relationship
• enjambment, creates a chaotic structure, of the gun going against the speakers morals
• addresses partner in direct address
• goes from second to first person