'Aunt Julia' by Norman MacCaig

Quotes

'Gaelic'

theme. theme of island culture, Aunt Julia's only language.

'very'

repetition. suggests she is very friendly and outgoing.

'I could not'

repetition. MacCaig did not know what she was saying, but there was a bond because of the way she spoke.

'men's boots'

word choice. shows her practical nature, she doesn;t care what she wears.

'strong'

word choice. shows she can physically do hard work.

'peat'

theme. dying island culture, it was used as a cheap source of fuel.

'spinning wheel'

theme. factories were being built on the mainland, but the industry hadn't reached the islands yet.

'marvelously'

word choice. it seems magical. He adores her and has huge admiration for her.

'absolute darkness'

word choice. he felt safe in the cottage, he didn't need a light.

'box bed'

word choice. even in his strange bed, he felt dafe because of her.

'crickets being friendly'

word choice. unknown noises outside the cottage are comforting, not dangerous.

'she was'

repetition. introduces statements describing aunt julia.

'water flouncing'

metaphor. she is very close to nature, and a force of nature, unstoppable.

'winds pouring'

metaphor. no one can stop the elements, they're so strong its impossible, like aunt julia.

'brown eggs, black skirts'

word choice. she looks normal, ordinary, nothing special.

'keeper of threepenny bits'

word choice. she's sensible with more, she doesn't squander it.

'silenced'

word choice. by the time MacCaig has learnt enough Gaelic, he can't speak to her because she's dead.

'absolute black'

word choice. when buried, no light is going to penetrate through.

'seagull's voice'

metaphor. she left a huge long term impression on him. She was outgoing and bubbly.

'getting angry...getting angry'

repetition. he's frustrated he didn't learn Gaelic sooner so that he could talk to him.

'so many'

word choice. There's only so much he know about her because of their communication barrier, he would've liked to ask questions.

'unanswered'

word choice. emphasises that his questions will never be answered.