Aunt Julia Flashcards
Key themes of Aunt Julia
Isolation
Communication barriers
Death
STANZA 1
” Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic very loud and very fast”
Suggests Aunt Julia is trying very hard to communicate. She is always on the go and very busy. Not understood but speaks loud and fast. Conveys she is very extrovert and not shy
STANZA 1
” I could not understand her
I could not understand her “
Repetition highlights helplessness of the poet and isolation of Aunt Julia
STANZA 2
” She wore men’s boots when she wore any “
Conveys that she has a masculine and tough side. Reference to her crazy side and that she is unconventional. Suggests she is old fashioned. Shows her attitude towards society
STANZA 2
” her strong foot stained with peat “
She does a lot of manual labour outside. Suggests she is close to nature. Very hard working. Cares more about her work than her appearance
STANZA 2
” while her right hand drew yarn marvellously out of the air “
Suggests that she does a lot of work. Always busy. Poet is in awe of her and admires her. Sense of magic
STANZA 3
” absolute darkness of a box bed, listening to crickets being friendly “
Despite the darkness he feels safe and secure in the presence of Aunt Julia. Positive attitude towards nature ~ makes him feel comfortable
STANZA 4
” She was buckets and water flouncing into them “
Connection to nature. Suggests Aunt Julia was a bit unpredictable as she is described as both solid and liquid. Suggests she is a bit crazy as she is described as two different concepts (oxymoron). Highlights that she is indispensable, practical and necessary because you can’t hold the water without the bucket
STANZA 4
” She was winds pouring wetly round house ends “
Close to nature
STANZA 4
” a keeper of threepennybits in a teapot”
Suggests Aunt Julia doesn’t have much money. Gives the impression that she has a hard life. May suggest that she is old fashioned and is careful with her money
STANZA 5
” By the time I had learned a little, she lay silenced in the absolute black of a sandy grave”
Ironic ~ he learns to speak Gaelic but is too late as she has die. Tone of regret. Aunt Julia even closer to nature now. Darkness of death
STANZA 5
” I hear her still, welcoming me with a seagulls voice “
Aunt Julia still lives through nature. He still hears her through a seagulls voice
STANZA 5
“Getting angry, getting angry with so many questions unanswered “
The poet is filled with regret. Both are angry. Aunt Julia is angry that he couldn’t answer her questions. Aunt Julia is also angry that deeper questions about life are still unanswered. Poet is angry he couldn’t get to know her better
