Loss commonality Q

Question 1

Commonality

Answer 1

• Both “Aunt Julia” and “Visiting hour” by Norman MacCaig explores ideas of loss.
• In “Aunt Julia”, MacCaig explores the idea of loss in both a personal sense – as he loses her at the end of the poem. Furthermore, the cultural loss represented by Aunt Julia is explored, since she can’t pass on the skills and language to others.
• In “Visiting Hour”, themes of the ugliness of death and isolation are explored by MacCaig – wherein he is visiting a very ill and close to death patient – putting across the idea of impending loss.

Question 2

Printed text quotes

Answer 2

“Her right hand drew yarn marvellously out of the air”

“But I hear her still”

Question 3

Secondary text quotes

Answer 3

“A withered hand trembles on its stalk”
“Leaving behind only books that will not be read”
“She lies in a white cave of forgetfulness”
“She smiles a little at this black figure”
“Into a lift and vanishes heavenward”
“Fruitless fruits”