Derek Mahon Flashcards
(25 cards)
What themes does Mahon cover?
Isolation
Nature
Place
In “Grandfather” what quotes touch on isolation
- “You hear his great boots thumping in the hall”
- “He escapes us all”
- “Bolt the door and wind the clock against the future”
In “Grandfather” Mahon writes “You hear his great boots thumping in the hall”. Explain this quote
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
This quote highlights the disconnect between narrator and the grandfather, the family aware of his comings and goings.
In “Grandfather” Mahon writes “He escapes us all” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
It is a metaphor that literally comments on his enigmatic personality while also alluding to his impending end.
In “Grandfather” Mahon writes “Bolt the door and wind the clock against the future” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
It is a metaphor highlighting how he refuses to move forward. He only wants to move backwards in time, to childhood.
In “Antarctica” What quotes touch on the theme of Isolation?
- “Goading his ghost into the howling snow”
- “Solitary Enzyme”
- “The tent recedes… and frostbite replaced by vertigo”.
In “Antarctica” Mahon writes, “Goading his ghost into the howling snow” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
This alliterative quote is a metaphor comparing the bleak snowscape to a personified howling predatory animal as Oates trudges on into the snow.
In “Antarctica” Mahon writes, “Solitary Enzyme” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
This image captures him forcing himself far from the tent comparing him to a microscopic spec against the infinite expanse of the snow.
In “Antarctica” Mahon writes, “The tent recedes…/ And frostbite replaced by vertigo” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Isolation
As the tent recedes and along with it all of civilisation, this chilling image portrays the hopeless ness of Oates’s situation.
In “Day trip to Donegal” What quotes touch on the theme of Nature?
- “Flopping aroung the deck in attitudes of agony and Heartbreak”
- “Cursing my constant failure to take due forethought”
- “Cluttering”
In “Day trip to Donegal” Mahon writes, “Flopping around the deck in attitudes of agony and heartbreak” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
Here when Mahon desribes the violent scene of the fish, he uses alliteration and implies that perhaps its the speaker’s guilt that causes his nightmarish visions.
In “Day trip to Donegal” Mahon writes, “Cursing my constant failure to take due forethought” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
Here Mahon is discussing the human races apparent inability to change its environmental behaviours before it is too late.
In “Day trip to Donegal” Mahon writes, “Cluttering” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
Here Mahon is personifying natures threateningly destructive potential by utilizing harsh sounding verbs.
In “After the Titanic” What quotes touch on the theme of Nature?
- “Boiler Bursting”
- “Dark Water”
- “The showers of April, flowers of May.. Late light of June”
In “After the Titanic” Mahon writes, “Boiler bursting” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
The graphic alliteration captures the power of nature via the literal explosion of the boilers.
In “After the Titanic” Mahon writes, “Dark water” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
This quote suggests the vastness and indifference of the ocean and nature itself.
In “After the Titanic” Mahon writes, “The showers of April, flowers of May… the late/light of June” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Nature
Both the alliteration and internal rhyme campture the whimsical splendor of the changing seasons.
In “The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush” What quotes touch on the theme of Place?
- “Portush” & “Donegal” & “Northern Counties Hotel”.
- “The girl strides past… light-footed, swinging a book bag”.
- “The old wolfhound dozes in the sun”.
In “The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush” Mahon writes, “Portrush & Donegal & Northern Counties Hotel” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Place
This poem names two seperate locations and reminds us that Ireland is a divided place which is further emphasised by the name of the hotel.
In “The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush” Mahon writes, “The girl strides past… light-footed, swinging a book bag” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Place
This quote is heavily symbolic.
“The girl” = Ireland and how we could be carefree.
“Strides” = potential to be confident and outward-looking
“Book bag = education to overcome confilct
In “The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush” Mahon writes, “The old wolfhound dozes in the sun” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Place
The wolfhound is a symbolic representation of war and violence. It’s “old” and “dozes” (much like rathlin) suggesting that Irish history is packed with turmoil but is currently entering a less aggressive place.
In “Rathlin” What quotes touch on the theme of Place?
- “Dream-time”.
- “Pitching surfaces”.
- “Doze”.
In “Rathlin” Mahon writes, “Dream-time” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Place
Rathlin is seen as a place of peacefullness. “Dream-time” in particular is referencing the Australian aboriginal concept contrasting the violent 1575 massacre with a spiritual timidness.
In “Rathlin” Mahon writes, “doze” Explain this quote.
This quote tackles the theme of Place
Much like in The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush, the dozing here personifies the idea that conflict isn’t currently at the forefront of the area but a violent future is possibly implied.
