after the titanic - introduction and themes Flashcards
introduction
After the Titanic by Derek Mahon is a poem which embodies the persona of Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star line. Allegedly, Bruce Ismay stole a place on the last lifeboat to evade the submerging Titanic, prioritizing his life over those of the passengers. This cowardly, arrogant action plagued Ismay for the remainder of his life, tarnishing his reputation and legacy forever. The poem explores Ismay’s inner monologue as he battles media criticism, trauma, and the consequences of his actions. Throughout the poem, Mahon uses a range of techniques such as word choice and imagery
what are five themes present in after the titanic?
- guilt
- living with the consequences of one’s actions
- loss
- sympathy
- isolation
what quotes are related to the theme of GUILT?
- “humbled me at the inquiry”
- “I tell you / I sank as far that night…”
- “Now I hide in a lonely house behind the sea / where the tide leaves broken toys and hatboxes / silently at my door.”
- “…mean nothing to me”
- “I drown again with all those dim / lost faces I never understood”
- “…my poor soul / screams out in the starlight”
what quotes are related to the theme of LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS?
- “Now I hide in a lonely house behind the sea / where the tide leaves broken toys and hatboxes / silently at my door.”
- “The showers of April, flowers of May mean nothing to me”
- “I drown again with all those dim / lost faces I never understood”
what quotes are related to the theme of LOSS?
- “I tell you / I sank as far that night as any / Hero.”
- “…here my costly / life go thundering down…”
- “Now I hide in a lonely house behind the sea”
what quotes are related to the theme of SYMPATHY?
- “I tell you / I sank as far that night as any / Hero”
- “Now I hide in a lonely house behind the sea / where the tide leaves broken toys and hatboxes / silently at my door.”
- “I drown again with all those dim / lost faces I never understood”
- “…my poor soul / screams out in the starlight”
- “Include me in your lamentations”
what quotes are related to the theme of ISOLATION?
- “Now I hide in a lonely house behind the sea / where the tide leaves broken toys and hatboxes / silently at my door.”
- “…takes his cocaine and will see no one”
- “I drown again with all those dim / lost faces I never understood”
