So Many Summers Flashcards
Introduction
“So Many Summers” by Norman McCaig is a reflective poem which effectively explores the theme of time passing, life, and death through his use of word choice, contrast, tone, and repetition when comparing two objects, one living and the other inanimate. The poet compares the abandoned boat and hinds carcass to when they were once recognisable and distinguishable from one another as a child, but as the years went by and he grew older, the objects suffered the same fate. McCaig reflects himself and his own life experiences onto the poem to emphasise the fact that time passes for everyone and everything even while it is a painful and scary experience to grow older and nearer to death.
“Beside one loch”
Creates a natural setting to introduce the poem, allowing the poet to reflect on both his own life experiences as well as a wider human experience.
“hinds neat skeleton” and “boat pulled high and dry”
Both the boat and the skeleton are so different yet almost the same. This suggests that both have lived, the hind literally and the boat metaphorically.
“neat”
The repetition of “neat” suggests that there is some kind of order or structure to it.
“Beside”
The repetition of “beside” creates a deeply reflective tone. He is aligning himself within the poem.
“high and dry”
Suggests the boat is stranded and without hope or solution to a problem. The expression originally alluded to a ship that had run aground. It’s figurative use dates from the late 1800s and is clearly the poet reinforcing the boat is beyond saving and past its usefulness. Boat has been pulled literally and left high and dry without hope.
“Two”
The repetition of “two” shows that death and time have an effect on both the living and inanimate objects. They are parallel objects having analogous experiences. It is effective as it evokes a sense of time passing and life coming to the end.
“neat geometries”
The word choice of “neat” and “geometries” creates a bittersweet image of life and death. “Geometries” emphasises the absence of life. The 2-Dimentional shapes show a lack of life/vibrancy. Things that are often the same; parts that are connected. There is a preciseness in the image that evokes the shapes he describe.
“drawn in the weather”
These images have not been painted by an artist but by nature. The weather is what helped create the impact on the decomposer time.
“dead and still to die”
Biomorphic shapes are often rounded and irregular, the form the shape actually suggests that there is still life within it.
“I”
The poet inserts himself in the poem. Indicates that this is a reflective poem.
It introduces the metaphorical journey which takes place as the poet grows during the poem in both age as well as life experiences, while relics decay and rot away.
“passed them every summer”
He’s reflecting and looking back on childhood memories.
“summer”
The summer setting also evokes happiness particularly. It links with childhood because of the sense of freedom, discovery, growth, and nostalgia. Shows a time where he had no responsibility and represents time which contrasts with the themes of autumnal ageing, both the speaker and the boat/carcass. Everyone ages as time passes by and the process cannot be reversed or prevented.
“rod in hand”
Gives a romantic image of an idyllic childhood full of happiness and free of care.
“skirting”
Full lively connotations of movements, the easy childhood. Creates a happy and nostalgic/sentimental tone.
