First Death in Nova Scotia - Elizabeth Bishop

Atmosphere - the use and repetition of chilly, wintery imagery creates a cold atmosphere in the parlor, representative of the coldness and unfeeling of death.

“cold cold parlor”
“white, frozen lake”
“marble-topped table”
“cold and caressable”
“red glass”
“all white, like a doll”
“roads deep in snow”

Warm imagery - in contrast with the cold atmosphere, the chromographs of the royal family are presented as being warm and comfortable — Arthur is going to a better place.

“The gracious royal couples were warm in red and ermine, their feet were well wrapped up in the ladies’ ermine trains.”

Rhetorical Question - Bishop is on the cusp of realising the permanence of death.

“But how could Arthur go … with his eyes shut up so tight and the roads deep in snow?”

Personification - the “loon” is personified, showing Bishop’s childish perspective and her lack of understanding of death.

“he hadn’t said a word. He kept his own counsel.”

Tone

Objective, matter-of-fact, conversational. “shot and stuffed by Uncle Arthur, Arthur’s father.”

Mood

Sombre

Theme

Moments of epiphany - Bishop is close to a moment of epiphany. Death

Metaphor - shows Bishop’s child like perspective.

“Arthur’s coffin was a little frosted cake, and the red-eyed loon eyed it”

Childish perspective - she attempts to comprehend death by making connections between things she already understands and things she doesn’t.

“Jack Frost had started to paint him the way he always painted the Maple Leaf (Forever). He had just begun on his hair, a few red strokes, and then Jack Frost had dropped the brush, and left him white (forever)”