Visiting Hour Flashcards
Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic / Very loud and very fast
Simple statement to open poem - Use of simple language to convey childhood experience. Establishes her as belonging to a traditional way of life
Repetition of ‘very’- Establishes Julia’s energy and chattiness but is intimidating
I could not answer her – I could not understand her
Repetition of “I could not” establishes gulf between the young MacCaig and his aunt.
Tone of frustration/regret (word choice of ‘could not’)
Dash creates pause before repetition and highlights their difficulty in communicating
She wore men’s boots when she wore any at all
Specific detail ‘men’s boots’ Establishes her as hard-working, practical, not interested in appearance. Hardy and tough as she does not always wear boots when out working the land.
I can see her strong foot Stained with peat
Present tense ‘can see’ Poet’s memories are vivid. Draws our attention to physical detail that she worked the land barefooted, cutting peat.
‘Strong’ shows the physical strength developed through years of hard work.
‘Stained with peat’ Develops our understanding of her connection with the land and traditional way of life
Paddling with the treadle of the spinning wheel
Word Choice - Paddling – up and down movement as she works the spinning wheel, mirrors the movement of the treadle
‘paddle’ links with water/nature
Masculine iambic pentameter (structure) - the rhythm of the line mimics the movement of her foot. In the same way that she was masterful at spinning yarn, MacCaig is a masterful poet. Masculine reference within the structure, shows AJ’s strength.
While her right hand drew yarn marvellously out of the air
Image of magic shows Intensity of childhood memory – sense of child’s wonder at her skill in spinning yarn from fleece
Word choice - ‘marvelously’ compares her skill to that of a magician.
Absolute darkness
Hyperbole - MacCaig has never experienced such darkness after growing up in Edinburgh, also suggest the idea of being left in the dark - he doesn’t understand his aunt or the surroundings at that point, but enjoys it.
In a box bed
Word Choice Connotations of darkness/isolation and old fashioned furniture
Listening to crickets being friendly
Anthropomorphism Reinforces connection with nature and the natural world that he found at AJ’s house - mood of security and happiness created as they are welcoming
She was buckets and water flouncing into them
Metaphor - No running water on croft, water had to be pumped shows AJ’s energy/vitality
word choice of “flouncing” - The water is not a steady stream as it is pumped into the bucket, suggests impatience.
She was winds pouring wetly Round house-ends
Metaphor = Conveys stormy weather, and reinforces her links with nature and tradition
Alliteration - ‘w’ mimics sound of the wind and storms that hit the croft
She was brown eggs, black skirts And a keeper of threepenny bits In a teapot
Continues List of “she was…” metaphors Shows her as practical in her work, her dress and her habits.
Traditional idea of “looking after the pennies” and quirkiness.
Aunt Julia….very fast
Repetition of opening statement.
Reflection of her life where speaker is no longer intimidated by her - in awe of her.
She lay silenced
Contrast with her loud voice
Euphemism Clearly conveys that she has died. Only death has the power to stop her energetic actions and speech.
In the absolute black Of a sandy grave
Word choice/Hyperbole - Intensifies darkness of the grave. Reminds us of “box bed” – but no friendly noises here.
