Andrew Waterhouse - Climbing My Grandfather

Question 1

What is the poem about?

Answer 1

• The narrator imagines climbing his grandfather, uses the extended metaphor of himself as a climber and his grandfather as a mountain.
• The narrator may be imagining the scene or remembering it from his childhood when he played with his grandfather as a young boy and observing things about him, or he may be using climbing as a metaphor for getting to know him as an adult.

Question 2

Give a brief synopsis of the poem

Answer 2

• The speaker starts at his grandfather’s shoes, and begins to ‘climb’ his body.
• He comments on his shoes, hands, skin and nails.
• He gets up to his shoulders and reflects on his ‘journey’ so far.
• Climbs on further to the top of his head and then reflects on his grandfather’s “good heart

Question 3

When was the poet alive?

Answer 3

1958-2001

Question 4

When was the poem published?

Answer 4

2000

Question 5

Context regarding Andrew Waterhouse

Answer 5

• Waterhouse struggled with mental illness, and eventually took his own life at the age of 42. * He spent his childhood in the north-east of England, and much of his work focuses on the environment - he even gained a masters in Environmental Science, and wrote a series of natural walk guidebooks.

Question 6

“I decide to do it free, without a rope or net.”

Answer 6

• The present tense of “decide” involves the reader, and presents the speaker as an active character - the reader feels like they’re witnessing the climb happening in front of them, which develops a sense of adventure.
• Element of peril or risk involved with getting to know his grandfather, may reflect generational divide between them - alternatively, it may suggest a level of familiarity as he is comfortable around his grandfather and can trust him to catch him if he falls
• “without” invokes theme of independence and liberation, shows how he feels confident enough with his grandfather, but it also reinforces the element of risk. This climbing vocabulary introduces the extended climbing metaphor.
• “free” - adds danger and excitement to the child’s game, since there’s nothing to catch the narrator if he falls.

Question 7

“First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked;”

Answer 7

• The child is starting his climb and observation at his grandfather’s feet.
• Adjective “cracked” connotes a level of disconnect, but also suggests the grandfather has a lot of advice and experience

Question 8

“an easy scramble onto his trousers,”

Answer 8

• Juxtaposing connotations of “easy” and “scramble” may further set up a divide between the child and his grandfather, as this is somewhat paradoxical

Question 9

“pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip.”

Answer 9

• Metaphorical of the process of learning more about his grandfather

Question 10

“By the overhanging shirt I change”
“direction, traverse along his belt”

Answer 10

• Reflects the change of direction in the formatting of the text, though enjambment of the line, perhaps representing the complex process of getting to know someone

Question 11

“to an earth-stained hand. The nails”
“are splintered and give good purchase,”

Answer 11

• Connection to nature - typical of Waterhouse’s work
• Enjambment of “nails are splintered” reflects physically reflects “splintered “ in the text
• “Good purchase” - has a wealth of experience

Question 12

“the skin of his finger is smooth and thick”
“like warm ice. On his arm I discover”
“the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet”
“gently in the old stitches and move on.”

Answer 12

• “smooth” - contrasting image to the rough and old images from earlier
• Simple simile for child-like effect
• “gently” - the grandson is considerate and aware of the pain his grandfather has gone through

Question 13

“At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while”

Answer 13

• Shoulders are typically used in literature as symbols of bearing weight, so by describing them as “firm” it places respect on the grandfather, and suggest he is very resilient, especially for his age
• “Rest” connotes trust for his grandfather, suggests they have a close and trusting relationship

Question 14

“in the shade, not looking down,”

Answer 14

• “not looking down” introduces a theme of avoidance

Question 15

“for climbing has its dangers, then pull”

Answer 15

• Continues the theme of trust in the relationship between grandson and grandfather, as he is relying on his grandfather to keep him safe
• Continues themes of independence and liberation, contrasting with the trust he places in the grandfather

Question 16

“myself up the loose skin of his neck”

Answer 16

• The grandson is gaining independence as he is now circumnavigating his grandfather without his help - “myself”

Question 17

“to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth.”

Answer 17

• “smiling” highlights positive relationship between the pair

Question 18

“Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek,”

Question 19

“to stare into his brown eyes, watch a pupil”
“slowly open and close. Then up over”

Answer 19

• “slowly” connotes consideration and care, which can thematically relate back to the depiction of the relationship

Question 20

“the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced”
“and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white”
“at this altitude), reaching for the summit,”

Answer 20

• “well-spaced” implies intentionalism

Question 21

“where gasping for breath I can only lie”

Question 22

“watching clouds and birds circle,”

Answer 22

• More natural imagery references back to Waterhouse’s environmentalist background and could suggest the connection between grandson and grandfather is very natural and caring

Question 23

“feeling his heat, knowing”
“the slow pulse of his good heart.”

Answer 23

• “Heat” connotes comfort and a sense of familiarity
• “Good heart” - clearly shows his grandson has a lot of admiration for his grandfather

Question 24

Describe the perspective the poem uses

Answer 24

• Though the poem is quite ambiguous, it can be assumed that the speaker is recalling memories from when he was a child when playing and getting to know his grandfather.
• This is juxtaposed by the fact that the poem is in the present tense, which shows that it is from the perspective of a child.
• It’s also in first person, and he refers to his grandfather’s features as “his” rather than ‘your’, which may imply narratively there is a divide - perhaps a generational one - between them.

Question 25

Describe the structure of the poem regarding unbroken single stanza

Answer 25

• The format of the poem is in one single, unbroken, stanza which continues the theme of mountaineering and climbing into the structure of the text as well as the language used.
• The simple structure of the poem as in one complete stanza also reflects the child-like nature of the speaker and his memories. * It could also reflect the daunting, relentless journey of climbing a mountain.
• Moreover, the poem is void of specific syllable lengths per line or a rhyming scheme which helps it mirror a natural conversation.

Question 26

Describe the structure of the poem regarding enjambment

Answer 26

• Enjambment is used by Waterhouse, perhaps to reflect a natural pace of a conversation or exploration, or to portray the change of direction taken whilst climbing.
• The most prominent example of this is the set of lines: By the overhanging shirt I change direction, traverse along his belt
• Because the “change direction” is literally displayed through the enjambment.

Question 27

Describe the poem’s form.

Answer 27

• The poem is written in the present tense, following the narrator’s journey up the mountain as he’s imagining it.
• Enjambment imitates the motion of climbing and emphasises the climber’s steady progress.
• Visually the poem appears strong and solid, like a mountain.

Question 28

Describe the structure of the poem.

Answer 28

• The poem follows a climber’s progress up a mountain from the bottom to the summit, it feels as though he is getting higher with each line of the poem.

Question 29

Describe how language about mountains is used in the poem.

Answer 29

• The extended metaphor of the grandfather as a mountain shows how the narrator sees him- as a permanent, reliable part of his life, as well as something impressive to explore.

Question 30

Describe the use of language regarding mountineering

Answer 30

• Waterhouse employs a semantic field of mountaineering, associated with the apparent care he has for his grandfather, suggesting he enjoys the activity. * For example, the lines: without a rope or net easy scramble overhanging
• This metaphor suggests that the speaker sees his grandfather as a monumental piece of nature, or perhaps quite complex to get to know well.
• It could also be a metaphor for the process of getting to know his grandfather during his adult years, or even a compilation of childhood memories.
• As he is moving from his feet to his grandfather’s head, this may be representative of growing up and developing as a person - perhaps he is finding more out about himself and he finds more out about his grandfather.
• This extended metaphor of climbing could be metaphorical for the grandfather’s status and experience he’s gained through living his life, or the admiration and feeling of awe the boy has towards his grandfather.
• An alternative interpretation of this choice of metaphor is to make the grandfather appear distant and too complex to get to know

Question 31

Describe the use of language regarding oxymorons

Answer 31

• Waterhouse uses oxymoronic language such as “warm ice” and “easy scramble” in order to demonstrate the complex nature of memory and nature, and perhaps the grandson-grandfather bond here.

Question 32

Describe the use of language about exploration.

Answer 32

• The climbing metaphor creates a sense of exploration that reflects the child’s excitement and enjoyment from playing with his grandfather.
• The child-like way in which he notices and then describes things shows how fascinated he is by the features he discovers.

Question 33

Describe the use of language about personal discovery in the poem.

Answer 33

• The poem can be read as the words of an adult who is learning about his grandfather, it is adult in tone and uses complex vocabulary.
• The climbing metaphor shows the narrator is actively trying to get to know his grandfather as a person.

Question 34

What is the significance of “decide” (Line 1)?

Answer 34

Because of the present tense, the reader feels like they’re witnessing the climb happening in front of them, which develops a sense of adventure.

Question 35

What is the effect of “free” (Line 1)?

Answer 35

This adds danger and excitement to the child’s game, since there’s nothing to catch the narrator if he falls.

Question 36

What is suggested by “without a rope or net.” (Line 1)?

Answer 36

It shows how he feels confident enough with his grandfather, but it also reinforces the element of risk. This climbing vocabulary introduces the extended climbing metaphor.

Question 37

How are feelings/attitudes of inquisitiveness displayed in the poem?

Answer 37

The speaker has a simple, child-like curiosity about his grandfather. This interest is reflected in his adventurousness and fascination with small details

Question 38

How are feelings/attitudes of effort displayed in the poem?

Answer 38

The narrator wants to make the effort to get to know his grandfather and to be close to him - this is shown in the physical nature of the climb and the exhaustion he feels at the end

Question 39

How are feelings/attitudes of closeness displayed in the poem?

Answer 39

The way the narrator affectionately describes exploring his grandfather and the way the grandfather smiles, show that they feel comfortable with each other. Their physical closeness as he’s climbing reflects their close emotional relationship

Question 40

Compare:

Answer 40

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