Translucent Jade Quotes

Question 1

“My grandfather made me a gift when I was born”

Answer 1

(symbolism, motif)
This quotes introduces the overarching motif of the poem focusing on the persona’s name being a ‘gift.’ This motif is first her chinese name that is symbolic of love and a connection to a shared heritage and past.

Question 2

“I used it for a while until another gift, my mothers flashed in view”

Answer 2

(contrast, extended metophor, connotations)
This motif later appears in the phrase “I used it for a while until another gift, my mothers flashed in view” creating a contrast between the old and new culture through the use of an extended metophor of the ‘gift.’ The anglicised name presents connotations of being valuable and useful presenting the idea of cultural homogeneity showing the name given in an act of generosity.

Question 3

“Here her gift sparkled and sang”

Answer 3

(enjambment, personification, alliteration)
The poet utiles enjambment to emphasises the new geographical location, Australia, where she is accepted through her anglicised ‘gift.’ Then through alliteration of “sparkled and sang” the motif of sound is present demonstraighting a personified representation of her new cultural identity.

Question 4

“Received his gift from silence”

Answer 4

(motif)
The motif of sound it then seen through “Received his gift from silence” deomonstraighting the significance of her name being spoken aloud, openly acknowledging and rediscovering a lost part of her culture for the first time.

Question 5

“What vibrations are these?”

Answer 5

(rhetorical question, tactile imagery)
Through the use of a rhetorical question the poet demonstrates the resonance of her cultural heritage, contrasting with the use of tactile imagery what is physically felt in comparision to the individual emotional response that can only be felt within.

Question 6

“Does this begin to become me, do I to it belong?”

Answer 6

(evaluative language, rhetorical question, hyperbaton)
The use of evaluative lanuage within this phrase emphasise the personas internal conflict, utilising both a rhetorical question and hyperbaton to reframe the relationship to her heritage and questions her ownership.