View of Scotland/Love Poem - Liz Lochhead (SQA Higher English Scottish Set Text)

My mother still giving it elbowgrease

The mother is shown to be a hardworking character and establishes a domestic scene

Jiffywaxing the vinolay

Working class home using casual slang, creating a fast rhythm and pace highlighted by the frantic cleaning

Petticoat-tails fanned out

Details of New Year's Eve prep, mentions of Scottish Traditions

Sockeye Salmon

Foods that are associated with new years, connotations of wealth and prosperity

'Last year it was very quiet'

Even though there wasn't anyone last year they still prep in case anybody turns up, just in case

Her not shifted!

Creates a Scottish dialect and a humorous tone, the mother must rush if she plans to be done in time

A new view of Scotland

Speakers optimism/hope for her life in the year ahead.

A dangling calendar is propped under last year's, ready to take its place

Everyone is enthusiastically embracing the new year. Mention of last years may suggest speaker is still clinging onto past.

Darling

Creates an intimate and affectionate tone as she directly addresses her lover

'Looking into a mirror to see a lassie wi as minny heids as days in the year'

A voice from the past, reminds us of how the past impacts the present

Familiar strangers at a party

Setting has moved from her mothers kitchen to a party in Glasgow

We weee the happiness we wished each other

When the speaker innocently wishes another person well at a party, she doesn't realise that the two will soon fall in love

Clock tick

Important idea of passage of time, hints to past

Hope to prosper

Superstitions and traditions must be followed in order to have good fortune.

Golden

Optimism for future

Crusts on steak pies like quilts on a double bed

Simile hints back to the bed mentioned in stanza one