Line by Line Poem Analysis Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the analysis of a poem about a childhood memory in Dublin.

Gardiner Street

A street in Dublin city centre where the poet and her family lived in a flat.

'Tanner'

A sixpence coin given to the poet by her mother to buy a bag of winkles.

'Spare'

The term used to describe the mother giving money, suggesting she could barely afford to provide the sum.

'Blown' bulb

The state of the light in the apartment stairwell that made the space dark and scary for the child.

Winkles

Small, edible shellfish, also known as periwinkles, common to Irish shores and found on rocks at low tide.

'Strip of sky'

The narrow view of the sky visible between the rows of tall houses lining the street.

'Bonus'

The poet's description for the rare occasions when the moon was visible within the strip of sky.

'Like little night skies'

A simile used to describe the winkle shells when they are wet from rain and glisten with a rich, dark blue color.