Aunt Julia Flashcards
“Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic
very loud and very fast”
Enjambment in lines 1 and 2 indicates the speed of her talk and underlines the poets lack of understanding as there is no pause.
Repetition of “very” shows a young boy’s perspective of how quickly she talked. This suggests a strong, energetic personality.
“I could not answer her -
I could not understand her”
The dash introduces an explanation of his inability to understand. Very blunt and has a straight to the point tone. This introduces the theme of lack of communication, the poet is frustrated by the communication barrier.
Repetition of “I could not” emphasises his inability to communicate with her.
“She wore men’s boots
when she wore any”
Word choice of “men’s boots”. This has connotations of solidity, strength and energy.
”- I can see her strong foot,
stained with peat”
The dash introduces a memory. The use of present tense shows the connection he still feels towards her.
“strong foot” again has connotations of a solid, energetic
character.
“stained with peat” shows the close connection between Aunt Julia and the landscape. Peat was needed for fuel and cooking, their lives depended on it.
“paddling … air”
Enjambment of the last tree lines indicates the spinning movement of the wheel this again conveys a sense of movement and activity associated with Aunt Julia.
“absolute darkness
of a box bed”
This contrasts to the city lights he would have been used to. This echoes later in the poem when he refers to the “absolute darkness of a sandy grave”. Here, despite the darkness and strangeness the feeling is one of peacefulness and security, in contrast to the bleakness, emptiness and sadness associated with her grave.
“crickets being friendly”
Noises or nature. Aunt Julia has always been associated with nature.
“She was … “
Repetition of “she was” the environment and daily domestic chores merge with the person of Aunt Julia. She is synonymous with these things in his mind as she is the one who pours water into buckets, gather eggs etc. She was so connected with the landscape that she became part of it.
“water flouncing”
Word choice of flouting suggests an energetic, jerky movement again converting the impression of Aunt Julia as a strong, energetic person.
“She was brown eggs”
Word choice of “brown eggs” suggests she was practical, self sufficient.
“black skirts”
This suggests a practical, pragmatic person.
“keeper of threepennybits”
This suggests she is thrifty. The picture that emerges is one of a strong, capable, hardworking person, always busy and always on the move. She had to work hard as the environment was harsh and u forgiving.
“Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic
very loud and very fast”
Structure of the first two lines repeats that of the beginning of the poem. Contrast here, though in stanza 1 he follows these lines with memories of her alive while here he speaks of her when dead.
“By the time I had learned
a little”
The poet is now grown up. He can now understand and speak a little Gaelic so he could communicate with his Aunt Julia but it is too late as she is now dead.
“she lay
silenced”
Word choice of “silenced”, she is dead. Death leaves only silence. This is a contrast with “spoke Gaelic very loud and very fast” throughout she has been portrayed as a vibrant, energetic character.
Use of enjambment places “silenced” at the start of the line to emphasise that she is no longer here. Almost resentful of death for robbing him of a chance to speak to her.
There is no longer any chance to communicate, tone of sadness and regret.
