Summary
The poem 'Request to a Year' by Judith Wright explores the speaker's admiration for her great-great-grandmother's dedication to art and her ability to remain composed in a crisis. The speaker reflects on her ancestor's qualities and wishes to embody them in the coming year.
- Personification — attributing human characteristics to non-human entities.
Example: The 'year' is personified as capable of giving gifts. - Alliteration — repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Example: 'meditating a suitable gift' uses /t/ sounds. - Enjambment — continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.
Example: Lines 7-8 create momentum with enjambment. - Apostrophe — addressing an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.
Example: The speaker addresses the 'year' directly.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things.
- Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
- Enjambment: A sentence that continues beyond the end of a line.
- Apostrophe: Directly addressing an absent or imaginary person or abstraction.
Common Confusions
- Confusing alliteration with consonance, which can occur anywhere in the word.
- Assuming enjambment means lines must rhyme.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is the significance of the great-great-grandmother's actions? Her actions highlight the balance between art and motherhood.
- How does the poem use sound devices to enhance its meaning? Alliteration and sibilance add musicality and tension.
- Why does the speaker address the 'year'? To express her hopes for personal growth and artistic strength.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of literary devices like personification and alliteration.
- Ability to analyze the poem's themes and structure.
- Interpretation of the speaker's intentions and desires.