An Analysis of Olive Senior's 'BirdShooting Season'


Bird hunting is a sport that is often engaged in for enjoyment or competition purposes. In her poem, 'Birdshooting Season,  Olive Senior shows the activities and attitudes of people who are connected to this sport.

Stanza 1
This stanza shares that the men are very close to their guns during this season. Men come from far to prepare for birdhunting in the speaker's father's house.


Stanza 2
The women work hard all night preparing the food and drink for the men to carry with them. They are described as being unhappy. Also, before they leave out the men drink rum that is not diluted by water.


Stanza 3 
The men leave in the darkness with their packs and guns.


Stanza 4
The children watch the men as they go. The boys look forward to being birdhunters one day and the little girls want the birds to escape so the men will come home empty-handed.

Literary Devices

* Contrast: There is a contrast between how the little boys and the little girls feel about birdshooting. The little boys look forward to the day when they can participate in birdhunting while the little girls are more protective of the birds. The little girls say, 'Fly Birds Fly' because they want the birds to escape being killed and the little boys anticipate joining the men or taking their place.

There is another contrast because the women are described as 'contentless' as they prepare the meals and beverages for the men. This gives the idea that they are doing these tasks out of duty and not because they are as invested as the men. Also, they may very well be feeling burdened by all the work they have to be doing.

Personification: The 'men make marriage with their guns' and 'the house turns macho' are examples of personification. They are used to show the effect birdhunting has on the men and other things. By saying that the men marry their guns it highlights how serious they are about ensuring their guns are in good condition for what they are about to do. They are close to their guns during this season. The house 'turns macho' because of the presence of the men who have come from far to prepare for birdhunting. For these men birdshooting is a very masculine sport and this is the energy they project.

Diction: 'make marriage' 'turns macho', 'hunters', 'contentless', 'longing' and 'whispering' are examples of words and phrases that are used to present the varying sentiments of the people involved in the poem to the birdshooting.

Imagery: The poem gives examples of the food and drinks that are being prepared by the women such as hot coffee, chocolata, cerassie, wrap pone and tie leaf. This is done to show the reader how much is done for this occasion.  
War imagery is also projected because words like 'hunters', and 'guns' are using to give the impression that the men are going to wage a war - a war on birds.

Themes: man versus nature, gender roles, masculinity, childhood experiences

Tone: reflective, pensive, serious

QUICK TIP: As you examine the poem, pay attention to how words are used to present the meaning of the poem.


Study Hub for CXC English A & B
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook


Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 25, 2020 at 7:13 AM

    This has helped me with my studying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sung jin woo's foot stoolApril 14, 2021 at 2:16 PM

    can you expound on the themes please ?

    ReplyDelete
  3. sugarMay 24, 2021 at 1:08 AM

    I really appreciate your support on this.
    Look forward to hearing from you soon.
    I’m happy to answer your questions, if you have any.


    คาสิโนออนไลน์

    เล่นบาคาร่า

    เครดิตฟรี

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simplifying Reflection 2 of the CXC English A SBA

Image
Students who are completing the English A SBA are asked to write three reflections. One in particular is quite challenging to many students - Reflection 2. What does Reflection 2 entail? Reflection 2 requires students to comment on the use of language in their chosen pieces. This requirement has plunged some students in a whirlpool of frustration. However, the experience of writing this specific reflection does not have to be overwhelming if students become more aware of what they are expected to do. Now, it is important for students to realize that the pieces they have selected serve a specific purpose - to communicate information about the students' individual topics. Therefore, if an individual topic focuses on the benefits of social media, for example, then students may come across a poem, article and a picture that provide pertinent information on this topic.  Reflection 2 requires students to pay attention to the language that is used to convey meaning. The word ' comment...
Read more

Tips on Writing Reflections for the CXC English A SBA

Image
THE ENGLISH A SBA (Writing the Reflections) Worth: 5 marks Please note that the reflections must be written in class. Each reflection should comprise of 150 words . You should have three reflections in all, and each reflection has a different focus. Reflection 1 In this reflection, you are expected to reflect on how each of the three pieces you have selected shaped your thinking about the topic. As you consider how each piece has shaped your thinking, consider the following: Have you gained any new knowledge? What does each piece make you think or feel about the topic? What do you understand more? Has your thinking changed? Recommendation: Encourage students to reflect on how each piece shaped their thinking in a separate paragraph. Reflection 2 This reflection focuses on the use of language in each piece. For print stimuli, focus on how the writer/author uses words to communicate or evoke a specific response in the selected stimuli. Firstly, the candidate mus...
Read more

English SBA - The Plan of Investigation

Image
This is an individual task that is worth 5 marks . It should comprise of 100 words. It is an introduction to the topic/issue/theme. It answers the following questions: What is your chosen theme and sub-topic? Why did you choose this issue/topic/theme? What are the expected benefits to you as a student of English? Consider how it will impact your vocabulary, knowledge, research skills, discussions and other aspects of your performance in English. How do you plan to collect relevant information on your issue/topic/theme and use specific English skills to analyse the pieces?  Overall, this section gives an overview of the general direction the SBA will take.   Once you are finished with your plan of investigation, then you should start writing your reflections. SAMPLE PLAN OF INVESTIGATION NOTE: Please note that this sample is by no means prescriptive (or standard) but should be used as a guide . My group and I have chosen the theme skin bleaching. I wil...
Read more