Mrs Tilscher's class

• "travel"

  • word choice connotes change, excitement
  • metaphor - pupils growing/learning (travelling in imagination), also long opening sentence represents long journey of childhood
• "chanted"

  • connotes singing rythmically together - suggests togetherness of class - safety/that lessons are engaging/enjoyable
• "Tana. Ethiopia. Khartoum. Aswan"

  • list of one word sentences - reflects the 'chanting' rythm of the words - perhaps Mrs T saying the words slowly and patiently. Also, places are exotic/foreign from Duffy's UK upbringing - sense of wonder/excitement
• "skittle of milk"

  • 'skittle' connotes fun games (lesson)
  • 'milk' connotes comfort/maternal figure of Mrs T/safety of class
• "chalky pyramids rubbed into dust"

  • symbolic of passing time/things being left behind/forgotten childhood
• "laugh of a bell"

  • personification - creates vibrant/fun atmosphere - a carefree world, where children are free to grow and find themselves within a nurturing setting
• "running"

  • connotes freedom/fun
• "Home"

  • connotes safety/belonging. Comparison emphasises enjoyment of class/lessons
• "enthralling"

  • connotes being absorbed/captivated - suggests pupils are drawn in by the lessons
• "classroom glowed like a sweetshop"

  • simile - just as a sweetshop would be filled with wonder/temptations/excitement for a child, so too is the classroom a plcae of wonder and fun
  • 'glowed' connotes warmth/appeal
• "sugar paper. Coloured shapes."

  • short sentences - list emphasises variety of colour/vibrant appearance of the classroom
• "Brady and Hindley...smudge of a mistake"

  • juxtaposition of security of class with murderers
  • simile - just as a mistake in a workbook can be erased, so too can the fear of the threat from outside be erased/forgotten
• "loved"

  • connotes nurture/safety/protection/care
• "gold"

  • connotes achievement/awards/positivity of classroom environment
• "scent of a pencil, slowly, carefully shaved"

  • sensory description and list of adverbs describe activity with universal appeal/memory of childhood
• "xylophone's nonsense"

  • personification - brings the scene to life - gives the environment a sense of energy/fun
• "Over the Easter term"

  • turning point in the poem - time of growth, symbolising the speaker maturing
• "tadpoles changed"

  • represents children growing up
• "commas into exclamation marks"

  • represents new learning taking place
• "hopped"

  • connotes games/enjoyment
• "dunce"

  • connotations of stupidity/lacking inteliigence - ideas of name calling/bullying/silly behaviour - speaker is no longer in safety of classroom
• "jumping and croaking"

  • silly, immature behaviour - not appealing like the class
  • 'croaked' symbolises growing up/voices cracking
• "rough...told you how you were born"

  • suggests being exposed to more grown up ideas outside the classroom
  • 'rough' - bully, snobbishness
• "You kicked him"

  • suggests violence/not ready for more mature ideas
• "appalled"

  • connotes disbelief - not ready for more mature ideas - idea of losing innocence - view of parent changes
• "feverish"

  • connotations of being agitated/nervous - anxiety over growing up/perhaps about freedom of maturity
• "air tasted of electrivity"

  • connotations of both danger and excitement of growing up/adulthood
• "untidy, hot, fractious"

  • list - suggests restlessness - ready to be free/make own decisions - also suggests uncomfortable stage of life/puberty
• "tangible alarm"

  • links back to 'laughing bells'
  • 'tangible' suggests clarity/something real
  • 'alarm' suggests warning/danger - the dangers presented by adulthood are a reality
• "you asked her how you were born"

  • disgust has turned to curiosity suggesting maturity
• "Mrs Tilscher smiled"

  • lack of response from Mrs T symbolises that security of teacher is no longer there
• "heavy, sexy sky"

  • pathetic fallacy - suggests storm is building
  • 'heavy' suggests the burden/serious nature of new information
  • 'sexy' suggests sexual awakening
• "reports"

  • connotes something serious/factual in contrast with fun excitement in stanzas 1 and 2
• "impatient"

  • suggestion of eagerness to experience the adult world
• "sky split"

  • metaphor for unsettled/troubled times ahead - loss of childhood innocence