Aunt Julia: Stanza 2

Aunt Julia: Stanza 2

‘Aunt Julia’: Stanza 2 Overview

Context

• “Aunt Julia” is a poignant poem by Norman MacCaig centred around his aunt, a Gaelic-speaking woman.
• The second stanza continues the theme of language and communication barriers from the first stanza.

Main Ideas

• The stanza emphasises Aunt Julia’s strong physical presence and combines this with the challenges of language barriers.
• The stanza speaks to the theme of multilingualism, highlighting a personal perspective on the experience of speaking different languages.

Structure and Style

• The second stanza follows the quatrains format seen in the rest of the poem.
• MacCaig’s use of simile in the second line (“sparked out of a socket”) brings vitality to Aunt Julia’s character.

Imagery and Symbolism

• Aunt Julia is metaphorically linked to natural elements such as the wind and fire – reinforcing her dynamism and vitality.
• The fire in the croft acting as a central image suggests the warmth and centrality of Aunt Julia’s presence.
• The concept of language as a physical object ‘bouncing’ off Aunt Julia evokes frustration and futility.

Language

• The phrase “like a socked foot” uses onomatopoeia and sensory language, providing readers with a physical sensation.
• The use of Gaelic words adds authenticity and depth to the depiction of the language barrier.

Summary

• In the second stanza of “Aunt Julia”, Norman MacCaig conveys a lively, strong image of his aunt which contrasts sharply with the frustration of their language barrier.
• The strong natural imagery and physical descriptions bring Aunt Julia to life, while the running theme of multilingualism brings attention to the challenges of cross-cultural and -linguistic communication.