Quote Bank (Junior Cert English): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Quote Bank
| Quote | Explanation |
|---|---|
| "Late August, given heavy rain and sun" | Sets the scene for blackberry picking. |
| "At first, just one, a glossy purple clot" | Describes the first ripe blackberry. |
| "Its flesh was sweet / Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it" | Conveys the taste and richness of the berries. |
| "Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for / Picking" | Shows how the taste of the berries creates a strong desire to pick more. |
| "Sent us out with milk cans, pea tins, jam-pots" | Depicts the children preparing to gather berries. |
| "With thorn pricks, our palms sticky as Bluebeard's" | Compares the children's stained hands to Bluebeard's, hinting at a darker undertone. |
| "But when the bath was filled we found a fur, / A rat-grey fungus" | Describes the mould that ruins the collected berries. |
| "I always felt like crying. It wasn't fair" | Expresses the speaker's disappointment and sense of injustice. |
| "Each year I hoped they'd keep, knew they would not." | Highlights the recurring cycle of hope and disappointment. |