Parades Flashcards
(10 cards)
Q1: What poetic device is used in the phrase “the keels incise the precise, old parallels”?
A: Imagery and alliteration. The line creates a vivid visual of ships carving old paths in the ocean and uses repetition of the “p” sound for rhythm.
Q2: Which device is used when the politicians are described as “waddling seals”?
A: Metaphor. The politicians are compared to seals to suggest laziness, clumsiness, and a lack of seriousness.
Q3: What is enjambment, and how is it used in the poem?
A: Enjambment is when a line runs into the next without a pause. Walcott uses it throughout the poem to maintain a flowing, uninterrupted rhythm, mirroring the continuous cycles of political failure.
Q4: Identify an example of personification in the poem.
A: “The law lived far away” is personification. The law is given human qualities to show its distance and irrelevance to the people.
Q5: What does the “fountain dry in the forecourt” symbolize?
A: Symbolism. It represents the drained, neglected condition of the people under failed leadership.
Q6: How is irony used in the poem?
A: The poem celebrates independence with parades and music, yet the people remain oppressed and disappointed. This contrast between appearance and reality is a strong example of irony.
Q7: What device is used in the line “tin-ringing tune from the pumping, circling horns”?
A: Onomatopoeia and auditory imagery. “Tin-ringing” mimics the cheap, metallic sound of the instruments, mocking the hollow celebration.
Q8: Why does the poet repeat rhetorical questions?
A: To create a reflective, confrontational tone. They force the reader to consider uncomfortable truths about post-independence politics and personal silence.
Q9: What poetic device is used in “the wind puts its tail between the cleft of the mountain”?
A: Personification. The wind is described like a scared animal, which adds a mood of unease and tension.
Q10: How does Walcott use diction to reinforce satire?
A: He uses words like “plod,” “waddling,” and “sleek seals” to ridicule politicians, showing them as absurd rather than dignified.
