The poem describes the confusion, shock, and horror immediately following the explosion of a bomb in the city of Belfast. (“Belfast confetti” was slang for homemade bombs.) Through the speaker’s experience, the poem illustrates the devastating and dehumanizing effect that violent conflict has on people and places.
What war is Belfast Confetti about?
These work on a literal level – they describe where he lives and how well he knows these streets. They also work as metaphors . The streets are named after generals, battles and places from the Crimean War – a conflict between Britain and Russia in Victorian times.
Why is the poem called Belfast Confetti?
The poem won the Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for Poetry. The name of the poem derives from the nickname for the large shipbuilding rivets and other scrap metal that were used as missiles by Protestant shipyard workers during anti-Catholic riots in Belfast.
What is the tone of Belfast Confetti?
The tone of the poem is indicative of someone who is bewildered. Notice the very short sentences for effect, and the multitude of question marks “fusillade” in this case showing someone not being sure of what to do or where to go. This reveals the shock and panic of a person trying to find a way out.
What poem can you compare Belfast Confetti to?
If you were to compare Belfast Confetti with The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost for example, you could use some of the following points: Both poems reflect the poets’ background and are anchored in place.
What does the big ball in Belfast represent?
The globe-shaped, white and silver steel sculpture is a representation of a new sun rising to celebrate a new chapter in the history of Belfast.
Why was Belfast a target for bombing?
Background. As the UK was preparing for the conflict, the factories and shipyards of Belfast were gearing up. Belfast made a considerable contribution towards the Allied war effort, producing many naval ships, aircraft and munitions; therefore, the city was deemed a suitable bombing target by the Luftwaffe.
What is the story behind Belfast?
The true story behind Belfast’s opening scene is the August 1969 riots. The riots began on August 12 in Derry, as protesters campaigning for greater rights for Irish-Catholics clashed with Protestant groups and the largely Protestant police force. The chaos soon spread to Belfast and other Northern Irish cities.
What does petals on a wet black bough mean?
‘Petals on a wet, black bough’ is the phrase which vividly shows the elegance of life and meanwhile show the impermanence of human life. Petals are found in nature in various vibrant colors which represents different human faces and the petals that lie in the wet, black bough symbolizes the transitory ness of life.
Who wrote Belfast Confetti?
Ciaran Carson is a poet and novelist from Belfast. Born in 1948, he grew up speaking Irish as his first language. He picked up English words playing out on the streets with friends.
Why are some scenes in Belfast in color?
The changes from black and white to color amplifies Belfast and creates a distinguished look and feel to the film’s story, illuminating the differences between past and present, reality and fantasy. In many ways, this allows the film to live in different time periods despite Belfast’s 1969 setting.
What does a fount of broken type mean?
This means a group attack. Suddenlyas the riot squad moved in, it was. raining exclamation marks, Nuts, bolts, nails, car-keys. A fount of brokentype.
What technique is raining exclamation marks?
The most striking element of ‘Belfast Confetti’ is the way Carson uses the idea of punctuation within this scene of violence and confusion. For example, after an explosion, it begins ‘raining exclamation marks’. This is effective because exclamation marks suggest surprise or fear.
What were they like poem themes?
The poem, What Were They Like?, is about the aftereffects of war, and what happens when one culture conflicts with another culture. The poem specifically protests about the damage done by the American military to the people of Vietnam during the war between the two nations in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Which poem compares best with poppies?
Remains, by Simon Armitage and Poppies, by Jane Weir are both poems written to show the impact of memory on different people. Remains focuses on the traumatic memories of a soldier while Poppies is linked to the memories of a bereaved mother. Both poems use first person.
What poem could you compare exposure to?
Try comparing Exposure to these other poems: Remains by Simon Armitage. Anthem For Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen.
What does orange mean in Belfast?
The colour Orange symbolizes Ireland’s Protestant minority and the Imperial ascendency established by King William III and Queen Mary in the aftermath of the glorious revolution which saw the overthrow of the Catholic King James II who was the last reigning monarch to practice Roman Catholicism while on the British
What do the balls on the Falls mean?
Symbolising the rising sun
The spherical steel sculpture is affectionately known as ‘the balls on the Falls’ Symbolising the rising sun, RISE was intended to represent a new hope for Belfast when it was unveiled in 2011.
What is the twelfth in Belfast?
The Twelfth (also called Orangemen’s Day) is an Ulster Protestant celebration held on 12 July. It began in the late 18th century in Ulster.
What was the issue in Belfast?
Tensions Leading to the Troubles
While Ireland was fully independent, Northern Ireland remained under British rule, and the Catholic communities in cities like Belfast and Derry (legally called Londonderry) complained of discrimination and unfair treatment by the Protestant-controlled government and police forces.
What were the Belfast riots about?
Background. Northern Ireland was destabilised in 1968 by sporadic rioting arising out of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) campaign, and the police and loyalist reaction to it. The civil rights campaign demanded an end to discrimination against Catholics in voting rights, housing and employment.