game of headless polo notes Flashcards
(27 cards)
What atmosphere does the title ‘A game of polo with a headless goat’ establish?
Playful atmosphere, peculiar, suggests humour and candour
The title sets the expectation for a lighthearted narrative.
What narrative perspective is used in the text?
First person, memoir
This perspective provides a personal touch to the storytelling.
What tone is conveyed in the text?
Candid, personal
The tone enhances the relatability of the author’s experiences.
In what tense is the narrative written?
Past tense
This choice of tense suggests reflection on past experiences.
What is the primary aim of the structure of the text?
Recreative, structured chronologically
This structure helps to engage the reader by recreating the events.
What literary technique does the text begin with?
In medias res (‘in the middle of’)
This technique draws the reader directly into the action.
How does the use of first person plural pronouns affect the narrative?
Indicates she is not alone, enhances shared experience and humour
This collective perspective adds to the communal feeling of the event.
What type of language is used to create an informal tone?
Colloquial language/vernacular
The use of terms like ‘lads’ bridges cultures and adds to the casual feel.
What effect does direct speech have in the text?
Injects immediacy and personality/character
It contrasts the author’s apprehension with the confidence of others.
What does the metaphor ‘fired up’ emphasize?
Sense of excitement
This metaphor illustrates the characters’ enthusiasm for the race.
What is the function of hyperbole in the phrase ‘waited for eternity’?
Humorously overstating boredom
This contrast highlights the difference between expectations and reality.
What verb choice is notable in describing the author’s actions?
Perches
This verb choice conveys a sense of precariousness.
What literary device is used in ‘a villager on a wobbly bicycle’?
Bathos
This creates a comical anti-climax amidst chaotic scenes.
What is ironic about the phrase ‘gazed around us’?
She becomes a strange amusement for locals
This highlights the cultural disconnect.
What technique is used with the repetition of ‘are they coming…’?
Builds tension and anticipation
This repetition emphasizes the uncertainty of the situation.
What types of imagery are used to dramatize the actions and atmosphere?
Vivid visual and aural imagery
Examples include ‘cloud of fumes and dust’ and ‘some fifty vehicles roaring’.
What does the phrase ‘yaqoob revved up the engine’ exemplify?
Aggressive onomatopoetic imagery
This choice of words conveys intensity and excitement.
What does the idiom ‘neck and neck’ signify in the context?
Relatable horse-racing metaphor underscoring tension
This idiom creates a sense of competitive urgency.
What is a significant characteristic of the aural paragraphs (lines 21-25)?
Rich with several onomatopoeic present participles
This enhances the sensory experience for the reader.
What does the semantic field in lines 19 and 23 suggest?
Nervousness of yaqoob and Iqbal about the volatile situation
This reflects the tension present in the race.
What does the adjective ‘sedate’ imply in the narrative?
Suggests relief at leaving the chaotic scene
This indicates a shift in the author’s emotional state.
What is the humor in the euphemism ‘his language growing more colourful’?
Contrasts cultural attitudes towards swearing
This highlights the differences between cultures.
What does the tricolon in line 48 capture?
Growing tension and confusion
This structure emphasizes her cultural ignorance.
