Significant Cigarettes, Rose Tremain
- Created by: RandomEpicness
- Created on: 06-07-20 11:18
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- SIGNIFICANT CIGARETTES
- LANGUAGE
- first paragraph= Pleasant description of setting contrasts with words 'huddled' and 'staring' describing Lev. Readers get impression that he is not happy to go. Fresh green of garlic symbolises a fresh start to be made through the trip.
- 'LIKE A MARRIED COUPLE'- Simile here juxtaposes the idea of separateness with marriage. Could be connected to the fact that Lev has lost his wife.
- 'AND LEV THOUGHT HOW ALL OF THIS.'..'AND ALREADY'- repetition here of 'and' at the beginning of sentences suggests how Lev's thoughts are wondering.
- 'HE LOOKED AWAY'- Short sentence emphasise how quickly he turned. Discomfort.
- 'WITH RAIN FALLING'- Pathetic fallacy used to suggest pessimism of future.
- 'HOW LONG BEFORE THE NEXT GAS STOP?'- rhetorical question shows what Lev is thinking.
- 'IN HIS BED BEFORE LONDON WAS BOMBED'- Alliteration suggests repeated bombing.
- QUOTES
- ''CLUTCHED RUSSIAN CIGARETTES'- Cigarettes symbolise his culture. 'clutched' suggests how he wants to hold on to his culture.
- ''NO SMOKING ALLOWED ON THIS BUS'- already at this early stage, Lev finds challenge and must adapt.
- 'HIS HEART REMAINED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY'- Patriotism and dislike at having to leave home and determination to hang on to culture. 'his' shows attachment to homeland.
- 'THERE WERE TWO COACH-DRIVERS'- Paragraph shifts focus away from Lev to actual journey.
- 'DARKNESS ON SILENT MARSHES'- more listing emphasises the length of journey across changing landscapes.
- 'HIS WIFE, MARINA, WAS DYING'- details of Lev's family life gives more context.
- 'LINOLEUM FLOORING'- description of sleeping suggests Lev went through hardship for his family.
- 'PAINTING STRANGE PICTURES IN LEV'S BRAIN THAT HAD NEVER COMPLETELY VANISHED'- the imagery here represents Lev's emotional distress associated with the time of his wife's death.
- 'WHERE HE'D TAKEN MARINA'- Smell of the egg evokes memories. Link between past+ present.
- 'MY NAME IS LEV'- Lev chooses to initiate conversation with Lydia. Maybe because he remembers the stork. The stork not dying represents the continuation of life. Lev seems to make a conscious decision at this point, put past aside and continue present.
- 'I EXPECT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN?'- Lydia has adventurousness, unlike Lev.
- 'MAY I SAY SOME WORDS'- Decision to practice his English suggests willingness to embrace future.
- 'LOVELY. SORRY. I AM LEGAL.'- Series of expressions shows how limited his English is.
- 'B&B'- surprising mention of stork and B&B creates some humour in the text.
- 'LEV COULD NOW SEE THAT DARKNESS'- nightfall reminds us of passing of time. This paragraph contrasts with Lydia's boredom of same scene as Lev remembers his home village.
- 'HE TOLD LYDIA'- Lev does most of the talking. Seems to need to talk to someone.
- 'THEY RAN OUT OF TREES' SAID LEV'- this suggests hopelessness
- 'LEV DRANK AGAIN'- His drinking at the moment Lydia mentions work is significant. Shows his anxiety and stress about finding a job.
- 'ENGLAND IS MY HOPE'- There is a sense of desperation here.
- 'RED BLANKETS'- Red motif again. red symbolises communism. Lev is travelling to London from a formerly communist controlled state.
- 'ENGLISH BOOK'- Lydia better prepared for England, immersed in new culture. He envies.
- 'LITTLE LOSS'- Juxtaposed with suicide. Lev's communist influenced lack of sympathy.
- 'INFERNAL LUCK'- 'infernal' suggests resentment and hate for English.
- 'LEAVING OF MY HOME WAS HARD AND BITER, BUT MY TIME IS COMING'- ends on a positive note. Suggesting some determination and hope for the future.
- STRUCTURE
- LANGUAGE
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