Studied by 4 peopleVALENTINE
VALENTINE
“Not a red rose or a satin heart”
Sentence Structure
“Not” at the start of the line emphasises that she thinks traditional commercial gifts are pointless and meaningless.
Makes the reader question the nature of love
“I give you an onion”
Metaphor
Blunt, weird gift, we wonder how it can be a thoughtful gift - introduces the extended metaphor
“It promises light like the careful undressing of love”
Simile
Simile compares the onion to the moon which suggests a new day is coming - new and exciting
“Photo of grief”
Metaphor
Compares how you see yourself to a photo of a grieving person - suggests that the hurt of a relationship can change you forever, and you are going to lose a part of yourself - painful process like grief
“It will blind you with tears like a lover”
Simile
Backup quote
suggests that love can be hurtful
“Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips”
Oxymoron
Shocks, kiss should be gentle, word choice of fierce suggests pain, discomfort - Suggest that the relationship is painful and stressful
“Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring”
Metaphor
Compares the silvery rings of an onion to a platinum wedding ring - suggests that the relationship could last forever - true commitment
“Lethal.”
Word Choice
Connotations of danger, pain, death - suggests that you lose a part of yourself in a relationship - something you cannot forget.
MRS MIDAS 1
MRS MIDAS 1
“We grew Fondante d’Autumne”
Word Choice
Connotations of golden pear. Makes them sound posh and full of themselves. She is very pleased with her life.
“sat in his palm like a lightbulb. On”.
Simile
Compares the golden pear to a lightbulb because they are similar shapes and it has turned to gold. Suggests her surprise and shock
“Sat in his chair like a king on a burnished throne”
Metaphor
Compares his chair to a golden throne because when he sait on it, it became golden - suggests he thinks of himself as a king, pompous.
“Spitting out the teeth of the rich”
Metaphor
Compares corn on the cob to teeth made out of gold. Suggests danger because he is not able to eat anything as it turns to gold. Also shows his greed because he would be likely to show off his wealth.
“It feeds no one; aurum, soft, untarnishable; slakes no thirst”
Sentence Structure
The list suggests/emphasises how empty and pointless the gold is
“I gazed, entranced”
Word choice - gazed : connotations of staring; entranced - connotations of fascinated, not understanding.
MRS MIDAS 2
MRS MIDAS 2
“Those halcyon days”
Word Choice
connotations of happy and calm, comfortable times. Creates a nostalgic and sad tone for what she has lost. Shows the dire consequences of his greed.
“His honeyed embrace”
Word Choice
Connotations of the colour gold like honey - you expect it to be a happy, positive thing but it suggests the danger of being touched by him.
“The woman who married the fool who wished for gold”
Enjambment
Emphasises “fool” as the last word on the line and suggests that she feels foolish for falling for him - shows her loneliness
“A beautiful lemon mistake”
Word Choice
Connotations of a yellow colour, links to the “golden trout” - suggests that he cannot eat anymore because it turns to metal - the unbelievable foolishness of his wish.
“I miss most, even now, his warm hands on my skin, this touch”
Repitition
Repetition - Repetition of “hands” to emphasise how she has lost everything - the touch is such an important human connection, warmth, comfort…
Poem finishes on “his touch”
She resents having lost the real, human touch and every connection with him when it was his “Midas touch” which ruined everything
ORIGINALLY
ORIGINALLY
“Fell through the fields”
Metaphor
Suggests the speed of the journey and the child’s point of view.
“Bawling”
Word Choice
Connotations of crying very heavily - Suggests how traumatic the children found the move
“Resigned”
Word Choice
Connotations of giving up and accepting a bad situation. Suggests loneliness and sadness
“Big boys eating worms”
Alliteration
Alliteration emphasises how big and cruel the boys would have seemed to her. Suggests her anxiety and depression about being left out.
“Swallow a slug”
Alliteration
Emphasises her change in her brother, links back to “big boys eating worms” - trying to adjust and fit in
“My tongue shedding its skin like a snake”
Simile
Compares her loss of accent to how a snake loses its skin as it grows up - suggests she is adapting to her new situation
THE WAY MY MOTHER SPEAKS
THE WAY MY MOTHER SPEAKS
“Under the shallows of my breath”
Word Choice
Very fast, shallow breathing suggests anxiety and panic. She does not want to be overheard or stand out - **theme of isolation (**like in ‘Originally’)
“Restful shapes moving”
Oxymoron -
Contrast shows the scenery flying past as she is sitting still, maybe feeling helpless or confused.
“Browsing for the right sky”
Word Choice
Connotations of looking for something for a long time, no-hurry. Suggests how slow and confusing the journey is, not sure what they were looking for - uncertainty
“Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent”
Contradiction -
Double negative shows her confusion and anxiety - the thoughts which keep going round her head cannot be silenced.
“I am happy and sad”
Oxymoron
Contrast shows her mixed emotions - Also scared about growing up but also excited about what adulthood brings.
“like a child who stood at the end of summer”
Simile
Compares her journey to growing up. End of summer is a metaphor for end of childhood innocence; things become serious as you mature and carefree times are over. Also an exciting time.
“In a green, erotic pond”
Word Choice of ‘Green’ - Suggests innocence
“In love with the way my mother speaks”
Enjambment
Shows her love for her Mum, the love and guidance from her mother but also with her Scottish roots and identity.
WAR PHOTOGRAPHER
WAR PHOTOGRAPHER
“finally alone”
Word Choice
Connotations of peace to work, process the experience
Suggests a sense of isolation - nobody to help
“spools of suffering set out in ordered rows”
Metaphor
Suggests that the scenes witnessed by the War Photographer are chaotic and painful.
“solutions slop in rays beneath his hands
Alliteration
Suggests that he is suffering from anxiety and the pain of dealing with the effects of what he has seen.
“The feet of running children in a nightmare heat”
Enjambment
Nightmare - connotations of horror and the intensity of the children’s fear
Children - suggests innocence, so emphasises the cruelty of war which kills innocent bystanders.
“A stranger’s features”
Word choice
Suggests distance, disembodied features - shows dehumanising aspect of war and suffering
“He remembers the cries of this man’s wife”
Word choice
Suggests the raw grief and pain that this person experienced
“A hundred agonies”
Contrast
Shows the extreme extent of suffering and pain
“agonies” has connotations of extreme pain and anguish
“Readers eyeballs prick with tears”
Word choice
Connotations of short, sharp pain. Suggests that the emotion does not last.
“prick” also shows that the emotion does not last
“and they do not care”
Sentence Structure
Short monosyllabic words create a strong sense of pointlessness and finality - also suggests frustration, and emphasises the cruelty on humanity
Note 
Flashcard (21)