The Self Unseeing

Question 1

Form?

Answer 1

•1st person= personal, autobiographical

Question 2

Language?

Answer 2

• stanza 1= semantic field of decay, place is worn and dead
• stanza 2: “she” “he”= depersonalises so can be generalised to any home, notifies distance between present and past
• “higher and higher”= crescendo, loud and vibrant, before harsh reality

Question 3

Imagery?

Answer 3

• stanza 2= becomes a home when a person mentioned, assuming parents
• “danced”= both past and present, could be filled with joyous thoughts
• “emblazoned” (to make brighter)= that day had a heavenly quality

Question 4

Rhyme scheme?

Answer 4

• ABAB= childlike, relating to memory of when younger

* song like= highlights playing of string instrument

Question 5

Tone?

Answer 5

• stanza 1= dilapidation, decay
• stanza 2= warmth and comfort
• stanza 3= Volta at end line: realisation of ungrateful ness

Question 6

Structure?

Answer 6

• repetition of “here”= visual imagery, takes reader on a journey of the house
• assonance stanza 1+3= harsher tone, emphasises middle stanza

Question 7

Links?

Answer 7

1. AJ= nostalgic
2. Piano= music bonding of a family
3. John Mouldy= juxtaposition of negative surroundings with positive memory

Question 8

Meaning?

Answer 8

Narrator is visiting a place of cherished memories which he regrets being grateful for as a child.