Originally Flashcards
What is the central theme of “Originally” by Carol Ann Duffy?
The influence of change and new environment
How does the poem use imagery and language to convey the sense of loss and displacement?
“Which fell through the fields” suggests the change that is being made and how much distance they have covered. “Your accent wrong” suggests the difference in accents and how she feels out of place.
Discuss the role of memory and nostalgia in the poem. How do they shape the speaker’s perspective?
The memories of her life if the Gorbals suggests that she is still thinking about her previous home.
Compare and contrast the speaker’s experiences in their home country and their new environment. How does this comparison contribute to the poem’s message?
“Unimagined, pebble- dashed estates suggests the difference between the environments
What is the significance of the final lines of the poem, “All childhood is an emigration. / Some are slow.”
This is significant as it is something most people can relate to as some people have physically moved location but everyone is changing as they are growing up
How might the poem resonate with individuals who have experienced immigration or cultural displacement?
They can relate to the same feelings like “your accent wrong” as they feel out of place and like they should not be in they area.
