Sestina Flashcards Preview

A) Bishop > Sestina > Flashcards

Flashcards in Sestina Deck (15)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What is sestina?

A

A particular form of poetry in which the last word of every line in the first stanza is repeated in a different order in the other stanzas

2
Q

Childhood memory. Homely picture of a child and grandmother

A

the old grandmother

sits in the kitchen with the child

3
Q

Seems like a positive image at first but there is an undercurrent of sadness and possibly grief (at the loss of Bishop’s father or mother perhaps?)

A

reading the jokes from the almanac,

laughing and talking to hide her tears.

4
Q

The almanac seems to hold all of the power in this poem. It appears to be a fountain of knowledge, but unable to feel and fully register the extent of its knowledge. In this sense, it is the grandmother who holds more power

A

foretold by the almanac,

but only know to a grandmother.

5
Q

Focus swaps to things in the kitchen as this will stop he emotions becoming to strong. Personification.

A

The iron kettle sings on the stove

6
Q

Personification of the almanac. It seems to know more than it should and does not understand it the effects it has.

A

clever almanac

7
Q

The almanac seems to be quite menacing and tormenting the child and grandmother with its wisdom. Teasing them with what it knows.

A

the almanac
hovers half open above the child,
hovers above the old grandmother

8
Q

Evident the grandmother is caring for the child

A

It’s time for tea now

9
Q

Bishop was evidently a very observant child mature beyond her years. She can see emotion but doesn’t quite understand it just yet. Simile & personification & simplistic language a child might use

A

the child
is watching the teakettle’s small hard tears
dance like mad on the hot black stove

10
Q

Grief is evident in the scene but with what is uncertain. The grandmother tries to do anything to distract herself from it. Sibilance

A

her teacup full of dark brown tears.
She shivers and says she thinks the house
feels chilly, and puts more wood in the stove.

11
Q

Personification of the stove and almanac. The almanac’s predictions appear to have come true, feeding its arrogance

A

It was to be, said the Marvel Stove,

I know what I know, says the almanac.

12
Q

Childish imagery of a child drawing a house, perhaps a reference to her lack of home

A

the child draws a rigid house

and a winding path

13
Q

Young Bishop puts a man her in her picture that could possibly be her father. The image is tinged with sadness however. But Bishop appears to be proud of her sketch. Simile

A

the child
puts a man with buttons like tears
and shows it to the grandmother

14
Q

Simile. The idea of time passing by in similar fashion to the previous stanzas but the grief is being buried by the child. The image is developing just like the child.

A

the little moons fall down like tears
from between the pages of the almanac
into the flower bed the child
has carefully placed in front of the house.

15
Q

Final words of wisdom from the almanac. The grandmother and child must move on with their grief and come back to it at a time when they can face it head on, so they continue with life as it is.

A

Time to plant tears, says the almanac.
The grandmother sings to the marvellous stove
and the child draws another inscrutable house.