Poem Of Return - Jofre Rocha Flashcards
(19 cards)
1.. Why does the speaker not want flowers upon his return? (3)
Flowers are superficial. He does not want superficial things, he wants emotion. He also does not belleve himself to be hero who deserves flowers or accolades upon his return. He fled and left the others to fight
- What does the speaker want instead of flowers? Why? (3)
He wants tears, hunger, intimacy, mouming and sleeplessness. Flowers are generally celebratory, and this is definitely not a time for celebration. He wants, instead, an acknowledgement of suffering. His return is indicative of something much bigger than just himself.)
- Comment on the description of the speaker’s
“host country” as the “land of exile and silence”. (2)
exile- he fled there to escape from oppression; silence - He could have been alone there/isolated/unhappy/no communication with home country or his people. ‘Silence’ also alludes to the heavy censorship of the oppressed people, People were jailed for speaking out against their country.
- Identify and comment on the effectiveness of the figure of speech in “tears of dawns”. (3)
Personification-even the “dawn” is crying. Even Nature is upset at the atrocities committed by people.
- Why are the mothers “bereft of sons” (line 8)?
(2)
Due to the political strife of the time, many young men (the sons) were imprisoned or killed. Some young men also went into exile. Some mothers also couldn’t have sons because their husbands/partners were killed or Imprisoned. Thus, mothers were denied the presence of sons.
- Comment on the effectiveness of the alliteration in “mothers mourning” (line 8). (2)
The repetition of the ‘m’ sound draws out the words, making it as long and heavy as the sadness it describes.
- How does the image of the ‘heroes fallen’ (line 12) contribute to your understanding of the poem? (3)
The speaker does not see himself as a hero. Those who stayed and fought and died are the real heroes. The speaker’s desire is to align himself with those who fought rather than viewing himself as one who escaped suffering. He wants justice for those who died- he does not want to be praised/admired.
- How does the image of the ‘heroes fallen’ (line 12) contribute to your understanding of the poem? (3)
The speaker does not see himself as a hero. Those who stayed and fought and died are the real heroes. The speaker’s desire is to align himself with those who fought rather than viewing himself as one who escaped suffering. He wants justice for those who died- he does not want to be praised/admired.
- Comment on the figurative interpretation of the “day-break” in line 12. (2)
The brink of change - the new day symbolises his hope that things will change/they will get justice/freedom. It could refer to those who died so shortly before the oppression ended.
- Comment on the effectiveness of the anaphora (“When I return…”). (3)
The title is echoed in the anaphora, “When I return”. This emphasises the context of an individual who probably had been forced to flee his home country and had to live in a foreign country for a while. This emphasises the prospect of coming home and his anticipation at the welcome he would get. It is clear that the speaker feels guilty about having gone into exile whilst his compatriots fought the oppressive system.
- Comment on the effectiveness of the anaphora (“When I return…”). (3)
The title is echoed in the anaphora, “When I return”. This emphasises the context of an individual who probably had been forced to flee his home country and had to live in a foreign country for a while. This emphasises the prospect of coming home and his anticipation at the welcome he would get. It is clear that the speaker feels guilty about having gone into exile whilst his compatriots fought the oppressive system.
- Discuss the change in tone from stanza 2 to 3. Quote in support of your answer. (3)
In stanza 2 there is a tone of longing and yearning - the grief is immense. He cries out for the homeland to meet him with ‘real’ emotions, not flowers, nothing superficial. In the 3rd stanza the tone shifts to anger and bitterness. Although happy to be home, he realises the enormous sacrifice made by some in the struggle for liberation.
- How does the last stanza successfully convey the speaker’s intention? (3)
Cleverly chosen diction - “anger” and “snaking” - implies that although the speaker is happy to be home, he still carries an enormous amount of anger and resentment towards their oppressors. He is definitely not forgiving. He seeks and demands justice for all those who were scarred/killed in the fight for freedom. “Snaking” alludes to something dangerous and poisonous - he will expose the atrocities and get justice for all. There is definitely an ominous tone.
- Why is what the speaker really wants, an impossibility? (2)
He wishes he could fulfil the wishes of the deceased. They are gone, this is impossible. He could possibly make a difference to those who are still alive, but definitely not to the deceased people.
13.1 Explain the use of the word, ‘silence’ (line 1), in the context of the poem.
(2)
The word, ‘silence’, suggests that the speaker’s time in exile has been lonely and he feels isolated from his people. He misses hearing the sounds of home. Being in exile, he feels that his voice of protest may be censored. (NOT that he didn’t understand the language in the land of exile!) (2 marks for 2 distinct points.)
13.2 Account for the use of the ellipsis in line 10.
(2)
The ellipsis creates a dramatic pause after the speaker emphatically states that he does not want flowers. The reader waits with anticipation to find out what it is that the speaker actually wants. (2 marks for 2 distinct points)
13.3 Refer to lines 3-4: ‘Bring me rather … which witnessed dramas.’
13.3.1 Identify the figure of speech in these lines.
Personification
13.3 Refer to lines 3-4: ‘Bring me rather … which witnessed dramas.’
13.3.2 Comment on the effectiveness of this image. (2)
Dawn is personified to suggest that witnessing all the tragedy has brought it to tears (‘dew’). The injustices that the people have suffered have been so immense and frequent that even nature responds with grief and sorrow. (2 marks for a comment on the effectiveness of the image)
13.4 Refer to lines 11-14: ‘Bring me only… from their eyes.’
Critically discuss how the final stanza reinforces the central message of the poem.
(3)
The stanza conveys how the speaker wants only one thing: justice for the people who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. He views the people who died for the cause as the real heroes as they fought a difficult and hopeless battle (‘wingless stone’). The speaker is angry and insistent that their ‘last wish’ be fulfilled. (3 marks only if
there is a critical discussion linked to the central message.
