An in-depth line-by-line (and further!!) analysis of Cockroaches by Mauri Yambo. These notes helped me get 96% for English in my matric finals and I have no doubt that they'll help you too.
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Mauri YamboL Writer, academic+poet from Nairobi Kenya
Bachelor of arts degree in sociology and political science- phd, role as an academic
1.Turn on the light Abrupt opening that creates immediate dramatic
tension as something is about to be
illuminated+revealed. Appears to be instruction from
speaker[not clear if is subject]
2.and helter-skelter Alliteration: repeated ‘sk’/’sh’ sound: evokes sound
made by legs of coakcroached as they scurry across
the floor
Movement suggests rushing about in
3.they scuttle confused/muddled+disorderly manner
4.to their dark shelters. Chaos amplified by contrast btw ‘light’ and ‘dark’
+how dark sought rather than light, opposite of what
is expected.
For creatures appears darkness associated with
‘shelter’
5.Cut them off Direct+ubrupt statement- echoes opening line of first
stanza.
6.from their hideouts Threatening+combative actions
7.block
8.their many approaches
9.and see cockroaches Repeated hopeless and helpless:[furry and worry]
heighten vulnerability+impotence or powerlessness
10.in hopeless flurry cockroaches display when prevented from escaping
11.and helpless worry. Tone remains imperious- conveys sense of
violence+aggression
Short monosyllabic words e.g.‘cut + block’ emphasise
threatening+combative tone- d
•Diction together with description of creatures
suggests speaker is aggressor +cockroaches
victim(+companion?)
Stanza ends with a full stop which creates a pause,
allowing the imagery and meaning of the stanza to
beprocessed.
12.But Conjunction:creates tension as it
indicates a change of topic and tone.
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