belfast confetti Flashcards
context
The Troubles – The Troubles is the name given
to the conflict in Northern Ireland during the
late 20th Century. Over 3,600 people were
killed and thousands more were injured. Two
separate factions fought over the constitutional status of the
country, with the goal of the unionist side to remain part of
the UK, and the nationalist side to become part of Ireland. As
a result, the violence also spilled into Great Britain and
Ireland. It was settled in the Good Friday agreement of 1998.
language
Enjambment and Caesura – Enjambment and caesura
serve to speed up slow down, link and break up different
sections of the poem. The heavy use of enjambment and
caesura throughout creates a sense of unease – the unsteady
flow of the poem makes the reader more insecure and
apprehensive, mirroring the feelings of those caught in the
conflict. Caesura and enjambment also combine to create a
sense of being cut off as communication systems fall. A prime
example of this is in lines 13 and 14.
structure
Structure – The poem opens as the chaos commences, as
signalled by the opening adverbial ‘Suddenly.’ What follows is
a rapid deterioration of any sort of order. In stanza 1, the
speaker is just about able to offer details regarding the riot,
but by the end of stanza 2, their sense of clarity has reduced
to such an extent that they question themselves.
how they present conflict.
through the use of punctuation marks, diction, and narrative technique
