S1 Literature​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Name:

The Possessive
by Sharon Olds

Someone
My who –
daughter controls
as if I and feels a sense of ownership over people / things
owned her – that girl with the
hair wispy as a frayed bellpull
Tension over time; symbolism, metaphor
has been to the barber, that knife grinder,
and had the edge of her hair sharpened.
Simile: 1. Blade of new bangs —> 2. Carbon steel, known for
Sharp it’s durability, very strong material used for support
Caesura: symbolise Each strand now cuts
the disconnect both ways. The blade of new bangs The daughter is clearly determined and relentless as the
between mother hangs over her red-brown eyes smile of carbon steel is used. Haircut
and daughter like carbon steel. Indicates the daughter’s anger and rebellion and her - added bangs
determination to fight with her mom and provoke her - chopped of her
Dropped line
long hair
Sibilance All the little The space between
—>harsh “s” sound
Cut off —> angers and
Metaphor,
spliced ropes Braids
are sliced. The curtain of the mother and
Tells the reader how hurts her mother
heartbroken the mom is dark paper-cuts veils the face that daughter is
Pause for emphasis, suspense widening Persona’s pov : you
Tone: anger, resentment, started from next to nothing in my body –
Bangs (metaphor) (daughter) wouldn’t be
bitterness
Metaphor: small argument that have been
Tone: defeated, acceptance Fiery (personality)
causing the mother pain Diction: blocking here without me —>
My body. My daughter. I’ll have to find The change in tone
Emphasis on “My” out
Contradiction to “dark paper cuts” or distancing you should be
another word. In her bright helmet shows us that the
(possessive pronoun) herself from the obedient and
Metaphor, protection, armour, fighting
she looks at me as if across a mother realises
mom could also respectful/ grateful
State of their relationship Daughter’s mood she must give her
great distance. Distant fires can be suggest that the
daughter freedom
glimpsed in the resin light of her eyes: daughter wants
and independence.
Brief sight Visual imagery, metaphor, diction, “Flammable” privacy
The fights will happen, but it just depends on when If not, their
Each other
the watch fires of an enemy, a while before relationship will
the war starts. greatly worsen.
Metaphor, Both sides will suffer and
experience high casualties