Higher English : Critical Essays : Maccaig : Memorable Experience

disclaimer: This essay is not a model essay. It will not get 20/20, and is simply for future reference for myself. If you wish to read it and pick up ideas from it feel free to do so. I also know I spelt Maccaig wrong every time.

Choose a poem which takes as its starting point a memorable experience. Discuss how the poet’s presentation of the experience helps you to appreciate its significance. 

In Aunt Juila by Norman Mccaig, we are made aware of Mccaig's childhood memories of times he spent at his aunt's house on a remote Scottish island. We are made aware of Mccaigs lack of understanding of the Gaelic language, which creates a language barrier. This is one of the main memories Mccaig has of his Aunt, and is created through Mccaig's skillful use of word choice, sentence structure and character development. 

We are made aware that Mccaigs aunt was a role model to him through the use of characterization. "she wore men's boots when she wore any" highlights her hard working attitude. It also creates the idea of the fact that she was not very wealthy which is surprising as we are aware that the memories Mccaig has of his time on the island were some of his best memories. The fact that he was relaxed- "crickets being friendly" - in pitch blackness on an island where he could barely communicate. This is shown through "very loud and very fast" which is repeated to emphasis the lack of understanding that Mccaig had for what she was saying, and shows us that she was growing impatient of the struggle of communication barriers. It allows us to see her impact on him and the strong nature of her caring manner. This helps to portray the theme of loss, which allows us to appreciate the significant impact that the loss of his aunt was incredibly hard on him. 

Mccaig also uses sentence structure to help portray Aunt Julia's character and emphasis her characteristics. The poems ending links back to the start by repeating the lines "spoke … very fast". This allows us to see that Mccaig reflects on his memory with the same light he felt at the time, suggesting he feels that there has been no improvement in communication despite the fact he is now a grown man. It also emphasizes the anger he still feels today at the fact that he never made the effort to speak to his Aunt while he could, showing us the regret he feels and this allows us to understand he has a deepened understanding of communicating with people which makes the idea of his change in understanding of communication significant.