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Discuss the appropriateness of the title, “The Wound in Time” - Leaving Cert English - Question 1 - 2019
Question 1
Discuss the appropriateness of the title, “The Wound in Time”. In your response, make detailed reference to the words chosen by the poet for the title. Develop your ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Discuss the appropriateness of the title, “The Wound in Time” - Leaving Cert English - Question 1 - 2019
Step 1
Discuss the appropriateness of the title, “The Wound in Time”
Answer
The title "The Wound in Time" can be viewed as a profound reflection on the enduring consequences of war and how it impacts collective memory. The word 'Wound' evokes a sense of pain and suffering, suggesting that the effects of war run deep, ingrained in the fabric of time itself.
Furthermore, the phrase 'in Time' implies a permanence to this suffering; it is not a transient hurt, but one that reverberates throughout history. The poem captures this sentiment as Duffy writes about the 'century’s tides' and the lingering shadows of war that crisscross our present.
Additionally, the poet highlights how history is muddied with emotional scars—expressed through imagery such as 'faces drowning in the pages of the sea.' This duality encapsulates the struggle of reconciling past horrors with the present, rendering the title both fitting and evocative.
Step 2
Choose two images from the poem and explain why you find these images particularly effective for this purpose
Answer
One potent image in the poem is 'the end of God in the poisonous, shrapnel air.' This phrase powerfully conveys the devastation of war and the simultaneous loss of faith and innocence. The juxtaposition of divinity and destruction emphasizes the moral and spiritual fallout that results from conflict, making the horror of war visceral and immediate.
Another effective image is 'your faces drowning in the pages of the sea.' This image strikes a chord by suggesting that the memory of those who suffered is submerged and forgotten, highlighting the theme of loss in a chilling manner. It evokes a haunting visual of identities being washed away by the relentless tide of time, reinforcing the idea that the trauma of war is not just historical but continues to haunt the living.