Exam (elaborations)
Derek Mahon Poetry Notes with complete verified solutions(graded A+)
- Course
- Institution
Derek Mahon Poetry Notes with complete verified solutions(graded A+)
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
BRAINBOOSTERS
Reviews received
Content preview
Derek Mahon Poetry Notes withcomplete verified
solutions(graded A+)
Themes featured in Mahons poetry - answer -History, often linked
with a sense of place->Antarctica, After the Titanic, Rathlin
-Understanding People->After the Titanic, Rathlin, Grandfather,
Antarctica
-Nature-> Rathlin, Antarctica, After the Titanic
-Isolation-> Antarctica, After the Titanic
-Death->Antarctica, After the Titanic,
Grandfather Notes lines 1-5 - answer -The grandfather is enigmatic
from the start. He was brought in 'from the world' which suggests
that he is now leaving the outside world and retreating into his own
world. It also leaves the issue of the nature of his injury and the
accident that caused it open to question. This fits in with his
mysterious nature.
-Contradictory words 'Wounded but humorous' are linked by
assonance. The 'ooh' sound is reminiscent of a gasp of pain.
-The grandfather is a contradictory, secretive figure.
Grandfather Notes lines 1-5 continued - answer -The confinement of
the shipyard is captured in the repetitive 'row upon row of gantries'.
This restrictive environment is 'rolled /Away' to reveal a wide
expanse: that of childhood. No longer confined and tethered to the
responsibilities of a job, the poet's grandfather is free to be who he
wants.
-Again, there is a sense of the mysterious. 'Only he can recapture'
his memories.
,-There is a darker reading of these lines, of course. Perhaps the
grandfather's injuries rendered him childlike and incapable. He may
be losing his grasp on reality.
Grandfather Notes lines 5-8 - answer -Habits of a lifetime: still rises
early but now he lacks purpose.
-Randomness of 'block of wood' and 'box of nails' suggests lack of
focus but is also reminiscent of a child playing at being an adult.
-Alliteration: Repeated 'b' sounds in 'block', box', 'banging' reinforce
the noisy disturbance caused by the grandfather's behaviour.
-Contrast between 'discreetly' and the noise caused by the
grandfather's actions
-Conversational tone brings the grandfather to life
Grandfather notes lines 9-14 - answer -Although this is a fourteen-
line sonnet, conventions are not strictly observed. This is fitting for
a portrait of a man who eludes those who attempt to control or
pigeon-hole him. Enjambment links octet and sestet.
-Contrast between noisy presence of previous lines and elusive
figure who is 'Never there when you call'
-Despite his mysterious nature, the grandfather takes no care to
enter quietly.
-He is 'as cute as they come' and 'shrewd'. Contrast between this
image and idea of the grandfather being childlike. However, the
word 'cute' has a double meaning: it can be used to describe an
appealing child. The colloquial language - 'as cute as they come' -
links the grandfather to Belfast. This is his place.
Grandfather notes lines 9-14 continued - answer -The grandfather
locks the door and sets the clock 'Against the future'. Is the
grandfather trying to ward off the inevitable future? Aural appeal:
onomatopoeic 'bolt',
-The grandfather's 'light goes out' as he falls asleep. His shrewd
nature is referred to once again: 'Nothing escapes him'. The
grandfather escapes those who seek to understand him or exert any
, kind of control over him in his later years. He is enigmatic, elusive,
mysterious and independent to the end.
After the Titanic notes lines 1-8 - answer Ismay defends himself,
saying he 'sank as far that night as any / Hero'. His claim to heroism
is contradicted by fact. True heroes such as all of the ships
engineers, perished because they did all they could to keep the ship
afloat or to help others escape.
-Irony in 'I turned to ice'. Ismay was safe in a lifeboat while people
froze in the water.
-Ismay's life froze at that point, however. He never recovered from
the disaster.
-Lack of clarity: do we feel sorry for Ismay? Tone is self- absorbed:
'my costly life' and does not mention those who died.
After the Titanic notes lines 1-8 continued - answer -Focus is on
items, but they have symbolic value. Prams remind us of the babies
and children who drowned.
-Alliterative and assonant 'pandemonium' , Prams, pianos' suggest
an element of order but that vanishes with the introduction of the
random 'sideboards, winches' and 'Boilers bursting'. The 'b' sounds
in 'Boilers bursting' captures the explosive nature of the event. The
musicians played on - 'shredded ragtime' - as the ship sank.
-Is it significant that all the imagery is aural rather than visual? Can
he not bear to describe the sights?
After the Titanic notes, lines 8-16 - answer -The scene shifts to the
present. Ismay hides away 'In a lonely house behind the sea'.
-There is no escape because the sea washes up reminders of lives
lost. The 'hat-boxes' and 'broken toys' bring to mind the women and
children who died on the Titanic.
-Nature offers no consolation, neither the 'showers of April' nor the
'flowers of May' can heal his soul. The rhyming of 'showers' and
'flowers' suggests the peaceful, beautiful harmony of the place in
which Ismay lives but it cannot help him.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller BRAINBOOSTERS. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R274,21. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
69988 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 15 years now