From Long Distance Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the form of Long Distance II?
The poem is a 16-line sonnet, divided into four quatrains.
How does the rhyme scheme reflect the theme of grief in Long Distance II?
The tight ABAB rhyme in the first three stanzas reflects the father’s attempt to contain his emotions, while the shift to ABBA in the final stanza signals a turning point in understanding grief.
What is the significance of the change in rhyme scheme in the final stanza?
It represents a volta, showing the speaker’s deeper realisation of the illogical nature of grief.
How is Long Distance II structured?
The poem has four four-line stanzas (quatrains), with varying rhyme schemes and metre.
Why does Harrison break the regular iambic pentameter in some lines?
The irregular metre (e.g. lines with 11 syllables) reflects the disordered and unpredictable nature of grief.
What does the disrupted rhythm in the final stanza suggest?
It shows the speaker’s personal struggle with grief and the emotional impact of loss.
Why are end-stopped lines used in stanza one of Long Distance II?
They slow the pace of the poem, mirroring the father’s heavy grief and mourning.
What is the effect of enjambment in stanza two?
It shows the father’s urgency and secrecy in hiding reminders of his wife to protect his love from being judged.
How does enjambment in stanza three reflect enduring love?
It speeds up the pace to show the father’s desperation and refusal to let go, showing that his love is still intense.
How does the phrase ‘popped out’ reflect the speaker’s father’s mindset?
The casual tone and phrasal verb suggest he’s in denial, acting as if his wife has simply gone out temporarily.
What is the effect of the italics in the word ‘knew’ in stanza three?
It emphasises the father’s self-deception, convincing himself that his wife will return.
What does the metaphor ‘blight of disbelief’ suggest about grief?
It shows that disbelief is a harmful reaction that prevents healing and acceptance of loss.
What is the significance of the ‘new black leather phone book’ in the final stanza?
It symbolises the speaker’s own mourning and shows how he is beginning to mirror his father’s ways of coping with grief.
How does the speaker’s reflection in the final stanza deepen the theme of grief?
It shows that grief is passed down and that the speaker now understands his father’s actions through his own loss.
