Before You Were Mine

Question 1

Author:

Answer 1

Duffy

Question 2

‘The decade ahead of my loud, possessive yell was the best one, eh?’

• MEMORY
• FAMILY RELATIONSHIP

Answer 2

The ‘loud, possessive yell’ suggests new baby made demands that ended the ‘decade’ that was the ‘best one’. New babies take over the lives of their mothers.
The brief ‘eh?’ is an affectionate rhetorical question, as if Duffy is reaching out to her mother.
Duffy may feel guilty; reassurance that she was truly wanted, or may want to show she understands the sacrifice her mother made for her.

Question 3

‘I remember my hands in those high-heeled red shoes, relics’

• MEMORY
• ADMIRATION

Answer 3

‘I remember my hands in…’ - suggest Duffy liked to play with her mother’s ‘high-heeled red shoes’ when she was a child - may also signify admiration for her mother; to literally follow in her footsteps.
‘Relics’ - sacred, religious objects suggests mother’s glamour is precious but ‘ghost’ highlights it’s in past and won’t return.

Question 4

‘Stamping stars from the wrong pavement’

• ADMIRATION
• REBELLION

Answer 4

‘Stamping’ suggests mother was energetic, trying to establish a definite direction for her future. Stars could be aspirations she craved, even though the route she took was the ‘wrong’ one.
‘Right pavement’, could be the Hollywood Walk of Fame with the stars’ footprints - shows Duffy believed mother belonged to life of glamour.

Question 5

Compare with:

Answer 5

Follower - admiration of daughter compared to admiration of son in ‘Follower’
Follower / Eden Rock - important childhood memories