In Mrs Tilschers Class Flashcards
‘You could travel up the Blue Nile, with your finger, tracing the route’
‘You’ this is universal, allows everyone to relate to experience of having a great teacher/class experience. Invites the reader into the poem
‘Travel up’ - the teacher literally traces the map with her finger to demonstrate the route taken by the river, the children are taken on a metaphorical journey in their imaginations as Mrs Tilscher helps them to picture the exotic sounding locations.
The lesson is engaging and immersive as if they are really there
A metaphor which evokes the escapism/magic of the primary classroom
‘Mrs Tilscher chanted the scenery.’
‘Mrs Tilscher chanted’ - the word choice of ‘chanted’ has connotations of a spell, suggesting that Mrs Tilscher is almost magical in the knowledge that she is imparting
However, ‘chanted’ could also imply a desire to control the children and repress their natural exuberance on Mrs Tilscher’s part. It is also an example of rote learning, a traditional and old fashioned way of teaching.
‘Chanted’ shows she has memorised it, ‘chanted’ also has connotations of mindless, muscle memory she does it so often it’s second nature
‘Chanted’ gives it an almost magical/mystical quality. Again, this reinforces the idea of something wonderful/fantastical; Mrs Tilscher creates a vivid setting through use of language (as does Duffy)
‘Tana. Ethiopia. Khartoum. Aswan’
Listing of places makes it a vivid, active experience for the reader: we relive this alongside the speaker
The fact she remembers shows the lasting impact of Mrs Tilscher
Exotic place names sounds mysterious
‘That for an hour’
Almost dismissive, throw away remark
Makes it feel like it isn’t a chore; a carefree tone is established
There is certainty to this; there is a clear routine and from that comes security
‘Skittle of milk’
Signifies break
Carton of milk
Skittle is a metaphor for a bowling pin; everything is like a game
‘Chalky pyramids rubbed into dust’
Duffy uses imagery the reader can relate to - she creates a convincing setting of a classroom in primary school which is universal
‘Chalky’ evokes an image of sand/desert, like the setting of the pyramids, as does ‘dust’
‘Dust’ has connotations of something old, long ago.
This metaphor is about the removal of images from the blackboard but creates a vivid image of the learning that has taken place and creates a real sense of escapism/setting
‘Laugh of a bell’
Personification is vivid and mirrors the joy of pupils; the whole environment evokes enjoyment and pleasure
‘This was better than home’
Abrupt matter of fact statement
It is very definite in tone
Short sentence
Emphasises this is where she wants to be
‘Enthralling books.’
‘Enthralling’ - a minor sentence suggests a passion for literature and an enchantment
Could be said Duffy is tracing her passion for literature back to this classroom
Also juxtaposed with previous sentence suggests that there was an absence of books/intellectual challenge at home
Suggests opportunity in literature. This is a snapshot of- a fragment of a memory (sentence structure and word choice)
‘The classroom glowed like a sweetshop’
Metaphor: the setting is bright and vibrant - there is a sense of wonder and amazement
Interesting use of the ‘sweet shop’ as an image - kids would prefer sweet shops to school but the sense of opportunity is tangible and appealing: they loved learning
The descriptions in the next line continue this idea of wonder and intrigue
‘Brady and Hindley faded, like the faint, uneasy smudge of a mistake’
Word choice/simile: the presence of Brady and Hindley is still tangible but obscure
The speaker taps into real fears here, ones which they are free from in school
The idea of it being ‘faint’ also suggests as a young child she would’ve been aware of the names but perhaps not quite the crimes, there would’ve been a sense of something happening but an uncertainty
‘Mistake’ - a childish use of language to describe horrific crimes
Contrasts all the previous positives
Allusion: in a poem about childhood it is interesting she mentions the ‘moors murderers’; the very real fear of the children being abducted would disappear - this fear felt by parents but children would feel safe in this classroom
The real world and the horrors of it didn’t matter to them
There is an innocence in Mrs Tilschers classroom - one which Brady and Hindley robbed of their victims
The poem charts a journey towards growing up - this is one of the darker moments in a poem about the carefree nature of childhood
‘Mrs Tilscher loved you.’
Juxtaposed with image of ‘Brady and Hindley’; emphasises Mrs Tlscher’s love for her pupils and reinforces idea of protection/safety afforded to the children in the classroom
Matter of fact short sentence suggests all pupils would share this view
‘Scent of a pencil slowly’
The senses are used to create a vivid image of the classroom and again, Duffy relies on stereotypical and universal primary images
The care taken over the pencil again adds to the idea of love and care in the classroom
‘Xylophones nonsense heard’
The pupils are protected from the ‘xylophones nonsense’
The mundane becomes the magical
Other classes are not under control, sense of chaos in comparison to the calmness of Mrs Tilschers class
‘Over the easter term’
Turning point of the poem: indicates a change/passage of time
Idea of growth and change is developed here
Easter/Spring being associated with re-birth and change
The passage of time is clearly indicated
