Edwin Morgan - Poetry

Question 1

What is the theme of ‘Winter’?

Answer 1

• The paradox that death is something that is certain and yet we have no idea what it is like.
• It uses the image of a frozen pond ro reflect the nature of death and relentless passage of time.

Question 2

What is the overall mood of ‘Winter’?

Answer 2

• Throughout the poem there is a bleak and melancholic mood.
• There is also a nihilistic tone.(nihilistic - a person who believes life is meaningless.)

Question 3

(“Winter”) analyse the quote “that nothing sees”

Answer 3

Q - “That nothing sees”
A - Fundamental reality of death - you cannot know death and yet it is inevitable. The poem ends with a bleak and nihilistic tone.

Question 4

(“Winter”) analyse the quote “heavy light”

Answer 4

T - Oxymoron
E - “Heavy light)
A - The winter light creates an unsettling and oppressive feeling.

Question 5

(“Winter”) analyse the quote “ice appears, it holds”

Answer 5

Q - “Ice appears, it holds”
A - When all live things die, cold, lifeless ice survives after the decay of all else.

Question 6

(“WInter”) analyse the quotes “decay” and “die”

Answer 6

T - Word choice
E - “Decay” and “Die”
A - Reminds the reader of things aginga and then dying. Decay suggests deteriorate and decline.

Question 7

How does Morgan use pathetic fallacy in ‘Winter’?

Answer 7

The weather/season echoes the bleak emotion of the poem. Winter is a time when this decay or hibernate and so, it suits the poem’s theme and mood.

Question 8

What are the main themes of ‘In the Snack Bar’?

Answer 8

• The overwhelmingness of being a blind disabled man doing regular tasks, as well as society’s indifference towards others.

Question 9

What is the main mood of ‘In the Snack Bar’?

Answer 9

• The man’s vulnerability is discussed throughout the poem as he has to put his life in other people’s hands in overwhelming situations.

Question 10

(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “crowded”

Answer 10

T - Word choice
E - “Crowded”
A - The atmosphere is busy and hard to navigate, connotations of being overwhelming.

Question 11

(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “no power”

Answer 11

T - Word choice
E - “No power”
A - The man is so weak that he struggles to do normal things, making him extremely vulerable.

Question 12

(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent”

Answer 12

T - Simile
E - “Like a monstrous animal caught in a tent.”
A - Just as a monstrous animal is large and scary, so too is the man unusual and frightening - making him vulnerable as nobody wants to go near him.

Question 13

(‘In the Snack Bar’) analyse the quote; “mountainous coat”

Answer 13

T - Metaphor
E - “Mountainous coat”
A - Just as a mountain is huge, so too is the man’s coat giant in comparison to his small figure, making him seem inferior to all else.

Question 14

What is the theme of “Good Friday”?

Answer 14

• Working class v. upper class (a criticism of the prejudice towards those in the working class)

Question 15

What is the mood of “Good Friday”?

Answer 15

Hopeless, humorous, everyday, realistic

Question 16

(“Good Friday”) Analyse the repetition of the quote “bliddy ignorant”

Answer 16

Creates a sense of frustration with himself and with his situation. His word choice has become more angry and less mild.

Question 17

(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote “Christ aye”

Answer 17

This is the second time that Jesus is referred to in the text, although, rather than the man seeing him as a religious figure, he instead uses his name as a swear and shows that he isn’t religious, and yet he is celebrating a religious holiday.

Question 18

(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote “brakes violently”

Answer 18

The bus relates to the movements of the man as his movements are extremely unpredictable, highlighting his drunkenness and the difference in composure between him and the educated man.

Question 19

(“Good Friday”) Analyse the quote
“On very
nearly
steady
legs.”

Answer 19

The structure of the end shows the way the man is walking, down the stairs in an unsteady and jolted way.

Question 20

What are the main themes of “Glasgow 5 March 1971”?

Answer 20

Crime, ignorance, society’s lack of concern for others and 70s Glasgow.

Question 21

What type of poem is Glasgow 5 March 1971?

Answer 21

Instamatic

Question 22

(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “Spurts arterial blood”

Answer 22

“Spurts” shows that the blood is gushing strongly from her wound - describes the pulsing gush of blood - potentially fatal.

Question 23

(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “The two youths who have pushed them”

Answer 23

The tone here is very matter-of-fact, it is a statement, however, this piece of information is shocking to the reader as it is when they learn what has truly happened to the couple, they didn’t fall into the window on their own accord, instead, they were pushed.

Question 24

(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “to loot what they can smartly”

Answer 24

“To Loot” tells the reader that this attack was part of a much larger crime, instead of just assaulting the couple, the youths were also going to rob the store (a jewellery store as suggested in the first line - “a ragged diamond”) , this method is brutal, yet effective.

“Smartly” suggests that the youths were focusing on efficiency and speed, they did not care about the two innocent people they had just brutally injured, instead their only focus was robbing the store as quickly as possible, highlights society’s lack of concern for others.

Question 25

(“Glasgow 5 March 1971”) Analyse the quote “Keep their eyes on the road”

Answer 25

The last line of the poem highlights society’s lack of concern for others as the drivers can see what is going on, but instead of getting involved, they are choosing to ignore what is going on, they look the other way and avoid the horrific scene beside them/.

Question 26

What are the main themes of “Trio”?

Answer 26

Religious allusion, mythology, joy and friendship, protection.

Question 27

(“Trio”) Analyse the quote “sharp winter evening”

Answer 27

Has connotations of a painful, biting cold and “evening” suggests darkness, this contrasts with the positivity in the poem. Morgan is highlighting that happiness can be found in unlikely places.

Question 28

(“Trio”) Analyse the quote “A young man and two girls”

Answer 28

Has connotations of Christianity as these three could symbolise the 3 wise men, showing that while Christmas is a religious holiday, you do not need religion to feel joy - this symbolism is ironic.

Question 29

(“Trio”) Analyse the quote “Cloud of happiness”

Answer 29

Word choice of “cloud” has connotations of togetherness, as if their breath has joined them together. Also, their breath is warm against the “sharp” air.

Question 30

(“Trio”) Analyse the quote “or is not born”

Answer 30

Parenthesis - Suggests that it does not matter whether Jesus is real or not, instead, all we need at this time of the year is happiness and joy.

Question 31

What is the main theme of Glasgow Sonnet i?

Answer 31

Poverty

Question 32

(“Glasgow Sonnet i”) Analyse the quote “A mean wind”

Answer 32

Personification - the place is so bad that the weather acts as a bully.

Question 33

(“Glasgow Sonnet i”) Analyse the quote “Ash”

Answer 33

Emphasises the idea of poverty by showing the level of junk these play fortresses are made of - not clean air and a bad environment.

Question 34

(“Glasgow Sonnet i”) Analyse the quote “no windows left”

Answer 34

Shows the high levels of crime in this poverty-ridden area as the vandalism has gotten so bad that there is now no windows to smash.

Question 35

(“Glasgow Sonnet i”) Analyse the quote “air too poor to rob”

Answer 35

The poem ends with the theme of poverty - sums up the poem.