Kin Flashcards
Relationships (37 cards)
Explores the complexity of…
sibling relationships
Angelou emphasises familial relationships to be…
fundamental for personal growth, maturity and emotional support.
CONTEXT
Angelou is reflecting upon her own experiences with her brother, Bailey
3 Big Ideas
- Everlasting relationship that helps you overcome adversities and hardships
- Reminisces her past with her brother
- The depth of a sibling bond allows you to navigate the challenges of adulthood.
Universal Message (OVERALL)
Angelou may be suggesting that relationships between siblings have been established as being eternal since the beginning of time.
“We were entwined in red rings”
The metaphor portrays their bond as everlasting.
The past participle verb, “Were”, produces a…
melancholy tone that might suggest that they have somehow drifted away, as they are no longer connected as they previously were.
“Entwined” also suggests that…
they are inseparable and were destined to face life challenges together.
The past participle verb, “Entwined”, alongside the relationship may suggest…
that their relationship is life long
The abstract noun, “red”, could portray…
(+ D.I.)
their intense passion and admiration for each other.
DEEPER IMPLICATION
Nothing can surpass the omnipotence of sibling love.
“Rings”
The noun unifies the speaker and the brother together.
This highlights the significance their biological similarities have between their profound emotional interaction towards one another.
It connected them even before birth of conception.
“Sheba, Eve and Lilith”
The inclusion of this triplet of women from the Bible and Jewish mythology may highlight the timeless and elemental relationship between siblings. It is part of a wider cultural heritage as well as a deeply personal reference to her own brother, Bailey, to whom this poem is dedicated to.
“First snows” and “Virgin forest”
(+ U.M)
The imagery of nature symbolises purity and innocence as the lexical field is also of whiteness.
UNIVERSAL MESSAGE:
Sibling relationships are part of the natural world.
The adjective, “First”, may reference…
new beginnings. Perhaps suggesting that every moment onwards from birth is to be experienced with your sibling
“Virgin forest”
(+ context)
May foreshadow the dangers they have yet to encounter together.
CONTEXT:
Angelou´s rape
“Virgin forest” links to “Before muddy waters”. Which is a metaphor portraying…
the transition from the early, simple and easy stages of the relationship to becoming more complex.
“Before”
The preposition portrays the speaker´s desire in returning back to their childhood experiences.
It portrays her fondness and affection towards her past childhood memories.
“Muddy”
The adjective produces a shift in chromatic imagery: From the whiteness explored in : “First snows” and “Virgin forest”, to a dirty, darker shade of tone.
Perhaps this may suggest that as we grow older, sibling relationships become more complex, with more deceit and deception.
Universal message 2
Although this is a deeply personal and intimate poem about the poet´s relationship with her brother, Bailey, it holds a U.M. about the theme of childhood relationships being more positive compared to the multifaceted adulthood relationships.
“You fought to die”
Re-inventing oneself due to external factors / environment
The oxymoron, “…fought to die”
produces ambiguity as it may be a voice for the longing to re-invent oneself.
OR
It raises questions in readers as we wonder whether we need to metaphorically die in order to rid ourselves from our past selves.
D.I: Some childhood relationships are not as magical as they appear to be. This implies that despite the unity of sharing experiences with a loved one, they can inflict pain and suffering
REPHRASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The direct address, “You”, produces an accusatory tone that may illustrate…
the speaker´s longing and yearning in finding relationships that are similar to the one with her brother. However, she can´t replicate / find his unique attributes within anyone else, suggesting that their relationship is unique and special.
“You left me to force strangers”
The speaker´s high expectations that men will be similar to her brother.
“Force”
Suggests that the speaker had no other choice but to act in this manner.
