Small Island quotes - Gilbert Flashcards
(18 cards)
What does Gilbert say about his RAF uniform?
”In my uniform of blue… I looked liked a God”
What does Gilbert say about his welcome to the “Mother country”
”Then one day you hear your mother calling… this stinking cantankerous hag. She offers you no comfort after your journey.No smile. No welcome. Yet she looks down at you… and says “Who the bloody hell are you”
What does Gilbert say that his work as a driver made him feel like?
”A frustrated prisoner, behind a wheel. I had dreams of attending a university, studying law and acquiring a degree.But my station was lowly”
What does Gilbert say he tries to do with the way he speaks?
“it makes the good people of England revise what they think of you… they expect us colony men to be uncultured”
What does Gilbert say about Jamaican food which shows how he misses his home?
“Bring me back sun and lazy,hazy heat – curry goat, spice-up chicken, and pepper-pot soup.”
What realisation does Gilbert have about Jamaica?
I was shocked by the awful realisation that, man, we Jamaicans are small islanders too!”
What does Gilbert say about Elwood’s farm that shows the difficulties in Jamaica post war?
While I was busy with war Elwood had lost most of his coconut, banana, guava, ackee and pimento to a hurricane”
What does Gilbert say about the palm trees in Jamaica?
”The palm trees that tourists thought rested so beautiful on every shore were my prison bars. Horizons my tormenting borders.”
Quotes about the dog poo Gilbert finds and mistakes for a jewel?
”What a piece of good fortune… lying lost, this previous oval jewel shimmered… for after the host of flies flew they left me with just the small piece of brown dog’s shit they had all gathered on “
Quote about how much rent Queenie charges them with?
“The rent Queenie charged us made me clean my ear to ask again. Three pounds a week for these rundown rooms”
What are the reasons Gilbert finds it difficult to find a job?
1)”I’m afraid all hell would break loose if the men found you talking to their women”
2)There’s no job for you here. I’m going to get in touch with that labour exchange, tell them not to send anymore of you people. We can’t use your sort”- links to Lonely Londoners
Quote that shows that Gilbert misses home?
”I longed to be once more in Jamaica. I yearned for home as a drunk man for whisky.
“sweet jamaican night air”
Quotes about the hostility Gilbert faces at his job in the Post office?
.”When are you going back to the jungle” ( Gilbert answers .”But i just get here,man, and i not fucked your wife yet”
What does Gilbert tell Hortense to do when he finds her cleaning?
.”get up from your knees… no wife of mine will be on her knees in this country”
What does Gilbert say about the cough sweet given to him by the old lady?
”I had no intention of eating that precious candy. For it was a salvation to me – not for the sugar but for the act of kindness.The human tenderness with which it was given to me”
What does Gilbert tell Hortense about the english?
‘ not everything the English do is good’ “
What quotes show how Gilbert and Hortense’s relationship has improved so much through the novel?
4.”Her eyes gazed upon me. And i Believe this was the first time they looked on me without scorn”
5.” ‘Are you teasing me, Gilbert Joseph… playful she hit my arm”
6.”Her face was so pretty wearing merry, I wanted to kiss it.”
