Aunt Julia

Annotation

Hers was the only houseHers was the only housewhere I've lain at nightwhere I've lain at nightin a in a bbox ox bbed, listening toed, listening tocrickets being friendly.crickets being friendly.

She was bucketsShe was bucketsand and wwater flouncing into them.ater flouncing into them.She was She was wwinds pouring inds pouring wwetlyetlyround house-ends.round house-ends.She was She was bbrown eggs, rown eggs, bblack skirtslack skirtsand a keeper of threepennybitsand a keeper of threepennybitsin a teapot.in a teapot.

he felt safe in his aunt’s house

metaphors

alliteration

alliteration

list builds up picture – how?

Aunt Julia spoke Aunt Julia spoke GaelicGaelicvery loud and very fast.very loud and very fast.By the time I had learnedBy the time I had learneda a llittle, ittle, sshe he llayayssilenced in the absolute blackilenced in the absolute blackof a of a ssandy graveandy graveat at LLuskentyre.uskentyre.But I hear her still, welcoming meBut I hear her still, welcoming mewith a with a seagull'sseagull's voice voiceacross a hundred yardsacross a hundred yardsof of peatscrapespeatscrapes and and lazybedslazybedsand getting angry, getting angryand getting angry, getting angrywith so many questionswith so many questionsunanswered.unanswered.

Norman MacCaigNorman MacCaig

repetition of the first two lines of the poem –

effect?

alliteration

he wanted to ask her so many questions – he learned a ‘little’ Gaelic

too late

appeals to the senses – sound, sight, smell + cultural references

1. What is the effect of the structure and word choice of lines 3 and 4 in stanza 1? 2. Why is the single dash used in line 3, stanza 2? 3. How does MacCaig’s word choice build up his admiration for Aunt Julia in stanza 2? 4. How is this admiration / pleasant memory continued with his word choice and line structure in stanza 3? 5. Comment on the effect of the figurative language in stanza 4. 6. Why does MacCaig repeat the opening lines of the poem at the start of the last stanza? 7. Comment on MacCaig’s use of enjambment in the final stanza. 8. What technique is MacCaig using in lines 3 and 4 of the final stanza and what effect does this have? 9. Comment on the effectiveness of the word choice in line 5 of the final stanza. 10. What is the effect of the imagery used in line 9 of the final stanza? 11. What is significant about the structure of line 12 of the final stanza and what effect does this have? 12. What do you think MacCaig means by the last two lines of the poem? Comment both on word choice and structure.

You can often see what look like patterns on the hillsides of Harris. These are the so-called Lazy Beds (and yet life was hard!) where the crofters used to grow potatoes and a few vegetables. They managed to cut strips of land between the rocks and fertilise what little soil there was with enough seaweed to provide them with a bit of something to put with the fish they caught. Today you will still see them cutting peat for fuel.

The famous Harris tweed is made all over both Harris and Lewis. It can be bought in many of the islands' shops and also direct from the weavers (at Luskentyre for example). Genuine Harris tweed bears the orb symbol, the mark of the Harris Tweed Association. The wool is Scottish in origin, but for it to be classed as Harris Tweed, it must be spun, dyed, finished and woven in the Hebrides.

Simple Gaelic phrases:

Fàilte! - Welcome!(pronounced faltchi)

Ciamar a tha shiv – How are you?(pronounced cimar a ha shiv)

Compare the sounds to the ‘seagull’s voice

Catriona Montgomery was born in Roag in the Isle of Skye in 1947. After leaving Skye she took a degree in Celtic and Modern Studies at Glasgow University and taught in a Glasgow school. She began writing poetry in her early twenties, and has also written plays and acted on television and radio. Embroidery

In the quiet kitchen skilled fingers pushing coloured thread through needle’s

eye.Kate, reviving summer, its fruits and blooms;within days the tablecloth will be ready.

Nebby Janet sits at the window sharp eyes scrutinising the road for drunks,watching the girls who go to the dance,counting the lights that are lit till two.

At eight next morningJanet makes quickly for the housesher embroidery finishedher sharp needle in the dark busily stitching lies.