Glasgow Sonnet i

Question 1

Mean wind wanders

Answer 1

The opening line establishes the THEMES of poverty, decay and hopelessness

The wind is described as ‘mean’ rather than simply ‘cold’.

PERSONIFICATION is used to refer to the wind as if it were a cruel/unkind/unwelcome person seeking out people to torment.

This emphasises how hostile the environment is and contributes to the unpleasant atmosphere of the poem.

Question 2

Hackles on puddles rise

Answer 2

PERSONIFICATION: As with the air, the puddles are given a personality.

In this case they are angry and aggressive.

The description ‘hackles on puddles rise’ suggests that the ripples in the puddles caused by the wind look like the hairs standing up on an animals neck when it is angry.

This suggests violence and danger.

Question 3

Play-fortresses of brick and bric-a-brac

Answer 3

IMAGERY: the piles of bricks and old rubbish (‘bric-a-brac’) are described as ‘play-fortresses’

This suggests that the children’s games are connected to violence and aggression, possibly suggesting the beginnings of gang warfare

ALLITERATION: The harsh sounds of ‘brick’ and ‘bric a brac’ reflect the violence they are used for

Question 4

Trash, ash, smash, crash

Answer 4

WORD CHOICE: ‘smash’ ‘ash’ ‘trash’ and ‘crash’ all rhyme and relate to one another

They all suggest destruction and decay.

Together they represent something that is broken

Question 5

Block condemned to stand, not crash

Answer 5

WORD CHOICE: ‘condemned’ suggests execution.

‘Condemned to stand’ is an oxymoron suggesting that the block is sentenced to the protracted agony of a living death, rather than a merciful end by execution or demolition.

Question 6

Around them the cracks deepen, the rats crawl

Answer 6

STRUCTURE AND IMAGERY: after the brief, hopeful idea of something holding out against the decay, the Volta (turn) of the sonnet, returns to pessimistic hopelessness.

Those who remain are surrounded by creeping decay and vermin

The observer sees that their eventual destruction is inevitable

The ‘rats’ could also both be real and metaphorical (representing social problems/disease/poverty)

Question 7

The kettle whimpers on a crazy hob

Answer 7

PERSONIFICATION AND ONOMATOPEIA: ‘whimpers’ suggests a person or animal crying out in pain.

The use of the word ‘whimpers’ helps to contribute to the description of the room and its occupants; it suggests that the kettle is expressing the misery of the room occupants

This adds to the dreary, pathetic impression of the room

Question 8

Roses of mould grow from ceiling to wall

Answer 8

IMAGERY AND JUXTAPOSITION: roses represent life and are considered beautiful

This image creates a juxtaposition/contrast between beauty and decay

The fact that they are ‘roses of mould’ highlights the absence of anything positive/pleasant

‘Mould’ obviously shows the decay that is present

Question 9

The man lies late since he has lost his job, smokes on one elbow, letting his coughs fall

Answer 9

ALLITERATION: ‘lies late…lost’ draws attention to his sadness and lack of purpose

The picture we are given of the man is one of hopelessness/lifelessness

Question 10

Air too poor to rob

Answer 10

PERSONIFICATION: the air itself becomes something pathetic/destitute

The speakers observation concludes that the scene is indeed one of utter poverty, hopelessness and decay

ENJAMBMENT of this last line ‘coughs fall/thinly into an air too poor to rob’ suggests continuity of situation