This document was used in my revision and helped me to achieve a Grade 9 in my English Literature GCSE (159/160) - key words and alternative interpretations of quotes are provided.
born in London 1944
has travelled widely im Russia &
There once was a country... I left it as a child Easterm Europe
I
2
but my memory of it is sunlight-clear her poetry arrests imagery and
for it seems I never saw it in that November
S
3 Symbolism
& which, I am told, comes to the mildest city.
Form :
5
The worst news I receive of it cannot break free-verse
6
my original view, the bright, filled paperweight.
7
It may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants, Language :
8
but I am branded by an impression of sunlight. 1 "they' .
↳ the country is never specifically
named and this ambiguity is
9
The white streets of that city, the graceful slopes intentional so that any migrants
10 glow even clearer as time rolls its tanks
can relate
11
and the frontiers rise between us, close like waves. ↳ the repetition of 'they' in the
12
That child’s vocabulary I carried here final stanza is ominous and
threatening as we don't know
13
like a hollow doll, opens and spills a grammar. who is being referred to
14 Soon I shall have every coloured molecule of it.
↳ the conflict between place
15
It may by now be a lie, banned by the state and people yet place Wins
16 but I can’t get it off my tongue. It tastes of sunlight. because the poem ends on
the positivity of
sunlight
.
2 Sunlight crepeated)
17
I have no passport, there’s no way back at all ↳ simple image used to signify
18 but my city comes to me in its own white plane.
happiness & positivity
19
It lies down in front of me, docile as paper; ↳ repeated to highlight her
20
I comb its hair and love its shining eyes. love for this place and her
passion which overpowers
2
My city takes me dancing through the city the negativity
22
of walls. They accuse me of absence, they circle me. 'branded by an impression
23
They accuse me of being dark in their free city. of sunlight
24 My city hides behind me. They mutter death, ↳ 'branded' is very painful ,
25 and my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight. aggressive imagery which is
latter juxtaposed by the sunlight
3 'bright-filled .
paperweight
paperweights hold things steady and still
4 personification (lines 7 18 19 21) of the City
. , , ,
↳ the City is like a lover
↳ above all else that would put her off the place ,
she was still in love with it
Structure :
I features that contribute to a sense of chaos to highlight the danger in the country
·
enjambment
potential comparisons:
·
caesura
·
1& free-verse)
• Extract from the Prelude
2 Stanza-length (fairly regular
.
↳ the speakers way on imposing order on the chaos
↳ refusing to be overcome by the negativity imposed on men
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