View of Scotland/Love Poem Flashcards
Down on her hands an knees (line 1)
my mother still giving it elbow grease (line 3)
Poem is told from the point of view of a young women. Immediately establishes the character of the mother as hard-working
ten at night
first mention of time-establishes theme of the past and present
Hogmanay
scottish term for nye. Establishes setting of poem
jiffywaxing and vinolay
made up words suggest scottish dialect. Establishes a domestic scene. Suggests this is a working class home. These are words the family use
(This is too ordinary to be nostalgic)
parenthesis-speaker explains that despite the poem being a recollection of the past, it should not be considered nostalgic. She does not want to be overly sentimental
sockeye salmon
black bun
petticoat-tails
Food associated with Hogmonay
Petticoat-tails fanned out
(imagery)
petticoat tails are a type of shortbread. Petticoats are old-fashioned undergarments worn under a dress or skirt. Links to tradition
‘Last year it was very quiet…’
This is spoken by the mother as she looks to the past. She will continue with the preparations even if no one is expected to show up
Mum’s got her rollers in
her well-pressed good dress
precise depiction of the mother - dressing for the occasion
waveset
candlewick
old-fashioned words help establish the setting as the past
Nearly half-ten already
Theme of the past and the present-time is passing but when compared with the rest of the poem, it passes more slowly in the past
even
hope
prosper
suggests fragility of the situation
tone-optimistic words of the future
this midnight MUST FIND US
tone-urgent, critical
If were to even hope to prosper
this midnight must find us
how we would like to be
tradition-start the year as you mean to go on
A new view of Scotland
allusion to the poem’s title. The ‘new view’ relates to the opportunities awarded by the new year.
Optimistic tone is established
with a ‘dangling’ calendar
is ‘propped’ under last year’s, ready to take its place.
Imagery
New calendar symbolic of looking forward/old calendar still ‘dangling’ suggests clinging to the past
Context: It is considered bad luck to replace the calendar before midnight
Darling,
new voice
opening of the stanza is immediately intimidate and affectionate as the speaker addresses her lover directly
thirty years since
Shift in time to 30 years in the future from the previous memory. Suggests time moves quicker the older we get
‘looking in the mirror to see a lassie
with as many heids as days in the year’
a new voice-from the past reinforces how vivid this memory is. Reminds us how much the past informs and influences the present
context-A hogmonay trick-children were told that when they looked in the mirror or dec 31st they would see their face reflected back as many days there are in the year. Children expect to see their reflections 365 times but the trick is that dec 31st is the last day in the year, so they would only see a single reflection
-
and two already since,
sentence structurr
the dash introduces a further time skip - it’s been two years since her and her partner met at a hogmonay party
familiar strangers at a party,
setting has changed from mother’s kitchen to a party. No matter how old we are, we celebrate hogmonay with friends and family
‘familiar strangers’
oxymoron- suggests that the people we learn to love in our lives were all once strangers to us
we did not know that we were
the happiness we wished each other
when the Bells went, did we?
Question-the speaker questions her lover. She introduces ‘love’ element of the poem by discussing the way they fell in love on Hogmonay when they innocently wished each other well
for where they want to be
new voice
optimism-suggests people have a choice over their future
to bring the new year in.
In high rises and tenements
scottish identity. People make their way to bye parties, emphasises the camaraderie that bonds committees together during Hogmonay
sunburst clocks tick
imagery-the clock symbolises the relentless passage of time
word choice-old fashioned clocks established this as being set in the past
on dusted mantelshelves.
Everyone puts on their best spread of plenty
Despite the passage of time, the traditions remain the same
(for to even hope to prosper
this midnight must find us
how we would like to be).
sentence structure
repetition of the line in stanza 2. Reminds us that traditions must be observed. Emphasised by the use of parenthesis
golden crusts
word choice
‘golden’ highlights optimism of the future
steak pies
like quilts in a double bed.
simile
suggests warmth and comfort.
Links to the past by recalling the mother’s dress on the bed and the shared love between the couple. This is the final mention of the past.
And this is where we live.
Sentence structure
Short sentence and
conjunction ‘and’ introduce this
patriotic statement. Suggests the
love Scots have for their country.
There is no time like the
present for a kiss.
(T) Past and the present. Although the
poem focuses on the past, the final
message is to remember to seize the day
– ends on an optimistic tone.
