’’ very loud and very fast ‘’
Repetition:
- poet begins with affectionate childhood memories of Aunt.
- repetition of ‘‘very’’ and ‘‘I could not’’
highlight the inability he had to communicate with his Aunt. - Also frustration at barriers in communication.
'’men’s boots’’
Word choice:
- Suggests a woman that is practical.
- Her work is physically demanding, both out of doors and within her house.
'’paddling with the treadle of the spinningwheel’’
Structure
- accentuates the lengthiness of the spinning process. It also creates a sense of movement and activity which MacCaig associates with his aunt.
'’her right hand drew yarn/marvellously out of the air’’
Word choice
- conveys the air of magic or illusion about the task. It is almost entrancing for the young boy watching.
'’the absolute darkness’’
- The poet shows affection in his description of his Aunt.
- Despite the typically frightening ‘’ absolute darkness’’ the poet seems very comfortable and safe. Indeed the crickets are shown to be ‘‘friendly’’.
Structure
- Writing in free verse helps to create a conversational style and tone, while the use of enjambment and repetition allow him to emphasise key aspects of the poem.
Tone
- The tone of the poem is largely admiration for the poet’s Aunt.
- The closing stanza uses a tone of anger and regret for missed opportunities.
'’Water flouncing’’
Metaphor
- the poet feels his Aunt is so close to nature that she is a part of it.
- she is shown to be linked directly to both the wind and the rain.
'’winds pouring wetly/round house-ends.’’
Metaphor
- the poet feels his Aunt is so close to nature that she is a part of it.
- she is shown to be linked directly to both the wind and the rain.
'’brown eggs, black skirts/and a keeper of threepennybits.’’
Word choice:
- the poet links Julia to a collection of simple domestic objects. These objects show her to be natural, traditional and careful with money.
'’Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic/very loud and very fast’’
Repetition
- the poet returns to the opening lines of the poem, indicating the beginning of a conclusion to the poem.
'’By the time’’
Tone:
- The tone changes here to one of regret and frustration.
'’silenced’’
The contrast between the loud, talkative, vibrant Aunt Julia in life.
- Absolute quiet of death is emphasised using enjambment to position.
- Tone:
seems almost accusatory, as if blaming death for suffocating and stopping her voice.
'’black’’
Word choice
- conveys the frighteningly bleak void of death.
But I hear her still, welcoming me/with a seagull’s voice.
Word choice:
-Julia is still so connected to nature that he hears her in the sounds of nature, even after death.
'’getting angry, getting angry’’
Repetition
- suggests MacCaig is warning us to hold onto and cherish the culture and heritage of the island way of life.
-He is afraid if we allow it to die, like Aunt Julia, then it too will be lost forever.
Key themes
- Facing death
- Nature and man’s connection to nature.
Themes connect with:
- Visiting hour
- Sounds of the day
- Memorial
- Basking Shark
