English Literature: In Mrs Tilscher's Class

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"You could travel up the Blue Nile with your finger, tracing the route while Mrs Tilscher chanted the scenery. Tana. Ethiopia. Khartoum. Aswan."
Homely, secure, learning, enjoyable. Blue Nile runs through African countries. Children get transported by Mrs Tilscher.
1 of 21
"Then a skittle of milk and the chalky Pyramids rubbed into dust"
Emblem of childhood - primary school. Very old fashioned.
2 of 21
"The laugh of a bell swung by a running child"
Personification
3 of 21
"This was better than home"
Superlative - extreme.
4 of 21
"The classroom glowed like a sweet shop"
Amazing, tempting, thoughtful - simile.
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"Brady and Hindley faded, liked the faint, uneasy smudge of a mistake. Mrs Tilscher loved you"
Brady and Hindley - moors murderers - contemporary reference. The classroom helps to forget, feel safe but 'smudge' always there. You feel secure in Mrs Tilscher's affection - convincing.
6 of 21
"She'd left a good gold star by your name"
'Good gold' alliteration - token of love.
7 of 21
"A xylophone's nonsense heard from another form"
Jolly, cheerful
8 of 21
"The inky tadpoles changed from commas to exclamations marks"
Developing into frogs, parallel to children. Becoming more complex.
9 of 21
"Three frogs hopped in the playground"
Out of the classroom - safety and security is gone. Can't control what happens.
10 of 21
"A rough boy told you how you were born"
Growing up - learning the facts of life
11 of 21
"You kicked him, but started at your parents, appalled, when you got back home"
Argument, change of personality 'but' seed of doubt, too close to home
12 of 21
"That feverish July"
Summer holidays
13 of 21
"A tangible alarm made you always untidy, hot, fractious under heavy, **** sky"
Puberty/hormones kicking in - change of environment
14 of 21
"You asked her how you were born"
Intrigued and interested
15 of 21
"Mrs Tilscher smiled, then turned away"
Mrs Tilscher can't give the answers anymore - protetection turned into rejection,
16 of 21
"Reports were handed out"
School more about grades, not fun
17 of 21
"You ran through the gates"
Verb which shows speed - want to leave, have freedom
18 of 21
"Sky split open into a thunderstorm"
Pathetic fallacy - weather reflects mood. Can't be looked after anymore, open to the world. Unstable, insecure, dangerous, loss of innocence - can't regain.
19 of 21
Where does the juxtaposition take place?
Between the second and third stanza.
20 of 21
Talk about time in the stanzas.
First two stanzas time is stood still - little details, caring. Speeds up in last two stanzas - don't want to be there, outgrown Mrs Tilscher.
21 of 21

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

"Then a skittle of milk and the chalky Pyramids rubbed into dust"

Back

Emblem of childhood - primary school. Very old fashioned.

Card 3

Front

"The laugh of a bell swung by a running child"

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

"This was better than home"

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

"The classroom glowed like a sweet shop"

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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