Sounds Of The Day

Question 1

Clatter came

Answer 1

• Sound techniques: poet uses a range of sound techniques to emphasise the vitality and energy of nature
• Alliteration: the two words in close proximity creates a particular effect, usually to intensify the words.

Question 2

‘When’

Answer 2

Word choice; positioning isn’t always quiet, when the noise comes it is more loud.

Question 3

'’Clatter’’, ‘‘creaked’’, ‘’ snuffling puff’’.

Answer 3

Alliteration

- Uses a variety of sounds to emphasis the vitality and energy of nature.

Question 4

‘Blocking’, ‘unblocking’, ‘rock’

Answer 4

Assonance:

- nature is shown to be alive and full of sound in contrast to the next stanza.

Question 5

'’Clatter came’’, ‘’ snuffling puff’’

Answer 5

Alliteration
- The words being in close proximity creates a particular effect, intensifies the words.

• He uses a variety of natural sounds to a reflection upon one specific experience.

Question 6

'’Black drums rolled’’

Answer 6

Metaphor:
- black drums create a strong image of a storm coming.

• colour ‘black’ represents grief and death
• while drums rolling create sense of impending doom.

Question 7

'’Scrapped shut’’

Answer 7

Metaphor:
the turning point of the poem.

• the poet uses the closing of the door mark the end of a relationship.
• the word ‘scraped’ is an unpleasant painful example of onomatopoeia to mark the end of all sounds.

Question 8

’’ end of all sounds’’

Answer 8

Word choice:

• poet exaggerates using extremes ‘’ end of all sounds,’’ to intensify impact of loss he is feeling.

Question 9

’’ you left me’’

Answer 9

Structure:
- it’s apparent in the third stanza as the speaker addresses the person who has left.

• poet using a single sentence to add impact to this statement.
• Enjambment used effectively to add directness in the line. ‘‘You left me’’

Question 10

Paradox

Answer 10

• Poet again uses hyperbole to describe the fire. We get the impression of a figure, suddenly alone, faced with the consequences of a separation.
• Paradox of a fire that makes no noise adds to this image of lose and loneliness.

Question 11

'’Bangle of ice’’

Answer 11

• Helps create and describe the intensity of the raw and painful sens of loss experienced.
• The shock of freezing water, followed by the numbness, conveys the complexity of parting.
• Just as a bangle is restrictive and remains with you, so too does the feeling of loss.

Question 12

’’ a bangle of ice round your wrist before the whole hand goes numb’’

Answer 12

Metaphor:

- striking contrast in imagery; here it is frozen water in comparison to the flowing, living water of stanza one.

Question 13

Key Themes

Answer 13

• Facing death ( of a dying person, or the relative)

- Nature and man’s connection to nature

Question 14

Themes connect with:

Answer 14

1. Aunt Julia
2. Visiting Hour
3. Sounds of the Day
4. Memorial