Vergissmeinnicht Flashcards
Vergissmeinnicht
Means forget me not
What is Juxtaposition?
Contrasts love and violence within one person, as seen in the phrase: “the lover and the killer are mingled.”
What is Graphic Imagery?
A disturbing, visual description of the corpse, exemplified by: “the burst stomach like a cave.”
What does Symbolism refer to?
The flower and name “Vergissmeinnicht” (forget-me-not) symbolize memory, love, and loss.
What is Irony in literature?
It is ironic that the soldier’s weapons, once powerful, are now useless and almost laughing at him, as expressed in: “mocked at by his own equipment.”
What is Alliteration?
The repetition of ‘f’ in “frowning barrel of his gun” creates a harsh tone.
What is Enjambment?
Keeps the flow going and reflects the ongoing, unrelenting reality of war, as shown in: “and the burst stomach like a cave. / He lay on his back, eyes open.”
What is a Tone Shift?
A change in mood from romantic: “the dishonoured picture of his girl” to brutal: “the burst stomach like a cave.”
What is a Metaphor?
A figure of speech where “the dust upon the paper eye” represents sight, memory, and observation, now covered by death and decay.
What are Contrasting Settings?
The intimate, emotional photo lies in a ruined, violent landscape, illustrated by: “Look. Here in the gunpit spoil / the dishonoured picture of his girl.”
What is Direct Address?
A technique that directly pulls the reader into the scene, as seen in: “Look. Here in the gunpit spoil.”
What is Slant Rhyme / Internal Rhyme?
An irregular rhyme scheme that mirrors chaos and lack of control in war, exemplified by words like “decayed” and “blade.”
What are Harsh Consonants (Cacophony)?
Sharp, jarring sounds that mirror violence, as in: “burst stomach… mocked… hard and good.”
What is Ambiguity in literature?
The soldier’s story is unclear, as demonstrated by: “the soldier sprawling in the sun.”
What is an Oxymoron?
A figure of speech where “the dishonoured picture of his girl” next to a rotting corpse creates emotional contradiction.
What is a simile?
The simile ‘like a cave’ emphasizes the hollowness and horror of the soldier’s death.
Example: ‘the dust upon the paper eye / and the burst stomach like a cave’
What is a metaphor?
The battlefield is described as a nightmare, showing how surreal and horrifying war is.
Example: ‘nightmare ground’
What is emotive language?
Uses emotional intensity to portray the enemy as terrifying, almost supernatural.
Example: ‘he hit my tank with one / like the entry of a demon’
What is consonance?
The repeated hard ‘k’ and ‘d’ sounds add a sense of harshness and finality.
Example: ‘mocked at by his own equipment / that’s hard and good when he’s decayed’
What is contrast?
Highlights the duality in the enemy soldier — human emotions vs. wartime role.
Example: ‘the lover and the killer are mingled’
What is caesura?
The full stop after ‘Look’ creates a dramatic pause, grabbing attention.
Example: ‘Look. Here in the gunpit spoil / the dishonoured picture of his girl’
