Aunt Julia

• What language is Aunt Julia associated with?

  Gaelic
• How is Aunt Julia's personality described?

  She is very extrovert and not shy
• What does repetition in the poem emphasize?

  MacCaig's helplessness
• How did Aunt Julia speak Gaelic?

  Very loud and very fast
• What is the significance of the poem being in free verse?

  It reflects Aunt Julia's eccentricity and unpredictability
• What type of footwear did Aunt Julia wear?

  Men's boots
• What does the description of Aunt Julia's foot convey?

  Her strength and connection to nature
• What does the act of paddling with the treadle of the spinning wheel symbolize?

  Aunt Julia's skill and power
• How does the poet feel about Aunt Julia's technique on the spinning wheel?

  He is in awe and admires her
• What does the poet listen to at Aunt Julia's house?

  Crickets being friendly
• How does the poet feel despite the darkness and primitive accommodation?

  He feels secure and safe
• What does the lack of punctuation in the poem signify?

  Excitement
• What do the 'darkness' and friendly crickets represent?

  Contrast between fear and comfort
• What natural elements does Aunt Julia represent in the poem?

  Buckets and water, winds, brown eggs
• How does Aunt Julia combine strength and security?

  Through nature and domestic life
• What does the poet's comparison of Aunt Julia to nature suggest?

  Her connection to the natural world
• What does the poet imply about Aunt Julia's life?

  It was hard and she worked very hard
• What happens by the time the poet learns Gaelic?

  Aunt Julia lies silenced in a grave
• What does the phrase "Death = Darkness" imply?

  Death is associated with silence and absence
• How does the change of atmosphere in the poem affect the reader?

  It conveys disappointment and sadness
• What does the poet hear that connects him to Aunt Julia?

  Her welcoming voice like a seagull's
• What does Aunt Julia's anger signify in the poem?

  Frustration over unanswered questions
• How does the poet feel about not being able to communicate with Aunt Julia?

  He feels frustrated and regretful