Eden Rock Flashcards
(66 cards)
What age was Causley when he wrote the poem?
71
What serious condition was Causley facing while writing the poem?
Seriously ill
How old was Causley when his father died?
7 years old
What could the poem represent for Causley?
A way to seek comfort when facing his own mortality
Causley wrote the poem in response to his own _______.
[mortality]
What does the narrator remember about his childhood?
A happy childhood memory during a picnic with his young parents
This memory is described as nostalgic but has deeper significance.
What deeper level of meaning might the picnic memory symbolize?
Reassurance that his parents will be reunited in the next life
This suggests themes of hope and continuity beyond death.
What is the significance of the title ‘Eden’?
It could relate to the Garden of Eden, representing an idyllic place
The name ‘Eden’ evokes themes of paradise and innocence.
List the main themes present in the content.
- Past
- Memory
- Loss
- Death
- Family
These themes reflect the emotional and relational aspects explored in the narrative.
What is the form of the poem?
The poem contains 5 stanzas, 4 regular quatrains followed by a split 5th stanza.
What type of metre/rhythm does the poem have?
The poem has a regular metre/rhythm.
What type of rhyme is used throughout the poem?
The poem uses half-rhymes throughout.
What effect does the regular rhythm evoke?
The regular rhythm should evoke a calmness.
What does the half-rhyme imply about the scene?
The half-rhyme creates an underlying sense of disharmony, implying that something is not right about this idyllic scene.
What does the split 5th stanza create for the reader?
The split 5th stanza creates a physical gap for the reader to bridge.
What might the physical gap in the split 5th stanza reflect?
It could reflect the gap between the narrator and his parents or the fact that he has now metaphorically joined his parents.
What do the first three stanzas reflect?
The first three stanzas reflect how he feels about his parents and the fondness for the memory he holds.
What do the final two stanzas switch to?
The final two stanzas switch to his parents turning their attention to him.
What do the parents encourage the narrator to do in the final two stanzas?
They encourage him to join them, reassuring him that it’ll all be okay.
What is juxtaposed with the ambiguity of the stream in the memory?
The detail of the memory
List some vivid details recounted in the memory.
- straw hat
- sprigged dress
- white cloth
- H.P. Sauce bottle
What do the references to light throughout the text imply?
A kind of heavenly setting
What does ‘Crossing’ potentially symbolize?
Death
What effect does the detail in the memory have on the narrator’s feelings about his parents?
It emphasizes how important this memory is to him