Dear Santa 14/9/15

Learning Intentions To analyse Dear Santa, looking at narrative voice, dialect, character, themes and symbolism.

“The tears kept comin and comin till ah felt ah wis squeezed dry and would never be able to shed anither tear.” The metaphor ‘squeezed dry’ compares Clare to a cloth being wrung out. This makes me think Clare has had her tears completely forced out of her. It is effective because it shows how unbearably upset she is, and the volume of tears she has cried.

5.“The strands of hair stood oot roon ma heid like a halo, glisterin and dancin in the light.” Personification, word choice, simile. The simile ‘like a halo’ compares Clare’s hair to an angel’s crown. This makes me think she looks like an angel, who are good, protective beings. It is effective because it suggests she is still a positive, bright person, who is looking out for her father even now.

6.“Ah covered the dull cloth so it wis bleezin wi light, patterns scattered across it, even pit some on ma tights and ma shoes.” The word choice of ‘bleezin’ suggests extremely bright, blinding colour. It is effective because it shows the huge contrast between the boring black clothes and the glitter, showing that Clare is still expressing her bright personality.

7.“…the glitter jist brought everythin tae life, gleamin and glisterin agin the flat cardboard.” The metaphor of ‘brought everythin tae life’ is comparing the design to living things. This makes me think that the design is so vibrant it is coming off the page. It is effective because it shows how powerful the colourful glitter is, and reflects Clare’s colourful, lively personality.

8.“The imprint of ma finger left sparkly wee trails a light.” The metaphor ‘…trails a light’ compares the glitter to light. This makes me think of bright, happy colours and positivity. It is effective because it shows Clare is trying to give her dad some of her vibrancy to prevent the darkness of illness and death.

9.“Ah pressed ma fingers aw ower the bedclothes so they gleamed in the light fae the streetlamps outside, then ah fell intae a deep glistery sleep.” The word choice of glistery suggests that even her dreams are full of colour and glitter. It is effective because it shows that she is constantly a bright, positive person, no matter what.

10.“The only bit of me that had any life aboot it wis ma eyes fur the tears had washed them clean and clear.” The metaphor of ‘…tears had washed them…’ compares her crying to washing something with water. This makes me think of a volume of water constantly poured over something. It is effective because it tells us how much she has been crying, but also that her sadness has been washed away, leaving her eyes bright.

Dear Santa Dear Santa can be compared to All That Glisters. Both are told from the perspective of a young girl, and both deal with the relationship between parent and child. However, there are some differences.

In pairs, decide which of these statements are true or false. Alison is telling the story. Alison is 12 years old. Alison is an only child. Alison thinks her mammy doesnae love her. Alison is jealous of her wee sister. Alison loves her wee sister. Alison wants a Barbie doll for her Christmas. Alison wants her mammy to love her. Alison looks like her mammy.

Setting Both stories are set at Christmas time. What are the connotations of Christmas? In your pairs, write down what you associate with Christmas time. Why do you think Donovan has chosen to set these stories at Christmas?

Setting The reality of Christmas; contrast between the happiness of Christmas and the depressing stories; easier to express emotions at an emotional time; allows there to be elements of colour and symbolism to do with Christmas.

Narrative What is the narrative style of this story? Why do you think this has been chosen?

Narrative As in All That Glisters, the narrative voice is that of a young girl. First person narration lets us experience her emotions with her, and makes her problems more real to us. However, it does not allow us to see the mother’s side of the story, preventing us from knowing if she does love Alison or not.

Dialect ‘Ma mammy disnae love me’. Use of dialect adds to the effect of the first, blunt, sentence. ‘Mammy’ seems an affectionate, comfortable Scots word for mum, which makes the statement more surprising. Imagine, ‘My mother does not love me.’ – does it have the same effect?

Dialect In pairs, find three examples of dialect being used and analyse their effectiveness. Answer these questions: Why do you think the writer uses dialect for this story? What difference would it have made if the story had been written in standard English?

Character Listen to the first paragraph of the story again. In your pairs, answer these questions: How is Alison feeling? Why? How do you feel towards Alison when you read this?

Character Each group will be given four words to describe Alison. Choose those which best describe her, and find evidence in the text to support why you have said this. You will feedback to other groups.

Learning Intention To analyse Dear Santa, looking at character, themes and symbolism To explain the use of language, analysing word choice, imagery etc

Character Alison seems to have very little confidence in herself. ‘…but his eyes were kind and he called me by ma name…’ p45. This suggests that she is unused to people treating her kindly – she lacks confidence so much that a tiny act of kindness seems important.

Find another two examples which suggest a lack of confidence. What does she say and do that tells you this? Why do you think she lacks confidence?

Alison vs Claire In what ways are the characters of Claire (All That Glisters) and Alison similar? Dissimilar? Discuss in your pairs, then write at least one answer for similar and dissimilar.

Alison vs Claire Claire is a positive, joyful character, who enjoys a loving relationship with her family. Claire says, ‘Ma daddy was dead chuffed,’ which shows both her father’s affection for her, and her happiness in cheering him up.

Alison vs Claire However, Alison is a much more withdrawn, unhappy character, showing the effects of parental disinterest. She says, ’…it makes you wee and crumpled up inside…’ which shows how miserable and lonely she feels without her mother’s attention.

Alison and Katie Look at the section from ‘Katie’s asleep in the other bed …’ ‘ to ‘You’re aye a good girl, princess.’ (a)Make two headings: KATIE ALISON Find the words and phrases used to describe each of them. If words are repeated, write down how many times they are used. Here is an example to start you off: Katie Alison fair curly hair big lurkin thing

Themes In All That Glisters, the main themes were father- daughter relationship, and love. Look at the following themes. In your group, pick out those you think could be themes in Dear Santa. deathjealousylovefamily violencerevengeart old ageparent–child relationship You can add any other themes you think are important. Use one piece of evidence to support each choice.

Jealousy Alison was jealous of Katie when she was born. What did she do that showed she was jealous? Discuss in your pairs and write down your answer.

Parent- Child Relationships Alison describes her mammy in detail. Look at the first paragraph of the story and the last section of the story (from ‘Ah fold the paper...). (a)Write down the descriptions of Mammy. (b)What do these descriptions tell you about Alison’s feelings about her mammy?

Relationships Alison believes her mum prefers Katie. She gives some reasons why she believes this. For example, her mum tucks Katie in, but not Alison.

Unlike Claire in All That Glisters, Alison doesn’t feel close to her mammy. She loves her but doesn’t feel loved by her, and thinks she prefers Katie. (For example, she tucks Katie in, but not Alison). What other evidence can you find about the relationship between Alison and her mammy? Look at words, thoughts, feelings, actions. Here are some parts of the story you can look at: Alison’s feelings of being unloved. The way Alison describes her mammy in such detail. The things Alison’s mammy says about Alison. The way her mammy compares Alison to Katie. What Alison wants to tell Santa. The ending of the story. Write down one piece of evidence from each section.

Alison’s feelings of being unloved. ‘Ma mammy disnae love me’ The way Alison describes her mammy in such detail. ‘soft and squidy like a marshmallow…’ The things Alison’s mammy says about Alison. ‘Why can’t you be more like your sister?’ The way her mammy compares Alison to Katie. ‘Katie’s only five. You’re a big girl’ What Alison wants to tell Santa. ‘Could you make my mamme love me? That’s not Santa’s job’ The ending of the story. ‘She bends over and kisses me – a dry kiss’.

Language Here are some quotations from the story. Find the place in the story that each quotation comes from. (a)‘It’s hard no tae be seen, it makes you wee and crumpled up inside.’ (page 43) (b)‘... her skin creases, soft and squashy like a marshmallow...‘ (page 43) (c)‘ah’m this big lurkin thing at the endy the back row, daurk and blurred.’ (page 44) (d)‘... watchin her hair glowin like a halo against the blackness of the room.’ (page 47) (e)‘... a dry kiss, barely grazin ma cheek...‘ ( page 47) (f)‘... She goes oot, nearly closin the door, but leavin a wee crack of light fallin across the bedclothes.’ (page 47) Look at the language of the extract. Pick out any words or phrases you think are effective and say why you think so. Is the writer using any figures of speech? Say what they are and what their effect is.

Significant Event In a novel, there is space for lots of things to happen to the characters. A short story is different. Usually, there are fewer events in the story, but anything which happens must be important or significant for the main character. It might make the character: think reflect act change in some deep or important way. The story All That Glisters was about the death of Claire’s daddy. Clearly death is very significant, but an event doesn’t need to be such a big life-changing event to be important. What happens in Dear Santa that is significant? Why is it significant?

Ending In pairs: (a)Look at the last section of the story. Is there anything Mammy says or does that suggests she does love Alison? Is there anything that suggests she isn’t being loving towards her? (b)Look at the last sentence. ‘She goes oot, nearly closin the door, but leavin a wee crack of light fallin across the bedclothes.’ Think about the work you did on symbolism in All That Glisters. What are the symbols in this paragraph? What do you think the ending means? Is it a good ending for this story? Why?

Ending The ending of the story is quite ambiguous. The crack of light may symbolise that her mother does have some affection for her, and is beginning to let that show. You might consider this a hopeful ending. However, you may see it as a dispiriting ending, as after all Alison’s heartache, her mother only has a tiny sliver of room in her heart for her eldest daughter.

Comparing the Texts Each group will be given a different area to look at. Make a list of similarities and differences between Dear Santa and All That Glisters. You must use evidence to support your points.

Comparing the Texts 1.Characters – Claire and Alison 2.Characters – Claire’s daddy and Alison’s mammy 3.Themes 4.Endings 5.Language and narrative technique