Morning in the Burned House By Margaret Attwood

In the burned house I am eating breakfast I have used the word ‘burned’ to emphasise the idea of burned house. The jaws made from “I am eating” illustrate the everyday ‘mechanical’ activity of eating breakfast. The persona is reflecting on a time in her/his past life, by remembering something as simple as eating breakfast. This shows how much the persona’s past life is missed.

You understand: There is no house, breakfast, The Red font and Grow/Shrink animation on the word “you” addresses the responder directly, telling them that there is an explanation of the previous slide ahead. The movement of the words “there is no” emphasises that most of what has been previously said has been made up. The question marks that are produced by the words “Yet here I am” prompt the responder to begin contemplating the true meaning of the poem. Yet here I am. ? ? ? ?

The spoon which was melted scrapes against The animations of the words “spoon” and “bowl” help the responder imagine them both scraping together. The animation of the word “melted” emphasises the abstract nature of the poem. The bowl which was melted

Where have they gone to? brother mother Off along the shore, perhaps sister father The brief revealing of the words “brother”, “sister”, “mother” and “father” emphasise that they are being imagined by the persona. This is further emphasised when each of the four family members walk through each other on the shore. brother sister mother father shore shore shore shore shore

Their clothes clothes are still on the Hangers Hangers Hangers Hangers Hangers Hangers Hangers The movement of the words “clothes” and “hangers”, and the fact that they all spawn from one point reveals to the responder that it is all part of the persona’s imagination.

Their dishes dishes dishes piled beside the sink Similar to the previous slide, each of the items: “dishes”, “sink” and “woodstove” suddenly appear, which gives the responder the impression that they are not real. With it’s grate and sooty kettle, Which is beside the woodstove

clear. Every detail Tin Cup Rippled mirror The use of the messy font on the word “clear”, reveals that the previous descriptions are clear to the persona, but not to anyone else. The substitution of the words “and birds are….” with “and songless” illustrates that the description of the house is not normal, therefore made up, hence the use of the cliché “the day is bright, the birds are singing”. The day is bright , the birds are.. and songless??

The lake is blue The forest watchful The use of different colours illustrates that the scene in the poem is made up. In the east a bank of Rises like dark bread cloud

I can see the swirls in the oilcloth floors glass those flares where the sun The use of the word “floors” instead of the word “flaws” emphasises the flaw in the persona’s reminiscing, being that it is only temporary. He/she will soon return to the real world. The use of the word “sun” literally hitting them further emphasises that the whole scene is the persona’s imagination. hits them

I I I can’t see my own arms and legs Arms Arms Legs Legs The fading of the persona’s arms and legs represents parts of the persona’s imagination that are not real. Currently, the persona is reminiscing in her/his old body, therefore would have old arms and legs. She is dreaming of herself/himself when he/she was younger.

Or know if it’s a trap or blessing The use of the shapes to depict a stick man represents the uncertainty of the persona’s state of mind. She does not know where the reminiscing is bringing her joy from the happy memories, or depression from missing her previous life. Blessing

Finding myself back here, where everything In this house has long The word “long” has been animated to illustrate the long time period that the persona has experienced since the time described in the poem. been over

Kettle Mirror Spoon Bowl The fading of each item represents the slow realisation that the persona is actually imagining. They have all been long over, hence the animation. Body

Including the I had then body The fast movements of the word “body” at the start, illustrate the energy the persona had when he/she was a child. The last animation of the word “body” represents the degrading body that the persona has now. The italics of the word “have” reveals to the audience that the persona’s current body is ageing (outside of her/his imagination). Including the I have now

As I sit at this mo u rning table, Happy The substitution of the word “morning” with the word “mourning” highlights the pun, the persona is mourning her family. The word happy is shaped like a smile in order to emphasise the positive meaning. The negative meaning of “mourning” is an oxymoron to the word “happy” which illustrates the uncertain state of mind of the persona once again. Alone

(I can almost see) Bare child’s feet Floorboards The large “(I can almost see)” represents the interruption of her reminiscing from the real world, that blocks it from being the persona’s reality.

grubby yellow In my burning Clothes T-Shirt Thin green Shorts The burning of the words “clothes”, “shorts”, and “T-shirt” illustrates that the persona is gradually coming back to reality.

Holding my cindery, non-existant Radiant flesh. The persona is holding onto the very last of her memories, as they are slipping away from her. This is depicted by the faded word “non-existant”.

Incandescent. Incandescent. Incandescent. Incandescent. Incandescent. When you look at the word “incandescent” it leaves an imprint on your eyes. Likewise, the persona’s memories are ‘imprinted’ on her/his mind. She will never forget them and she will carry them with he for the rest of her/his life.

By Brendan Srinivasalu