Climbing My Grandfather Flashcards
quote about nature + familial love?
“i decide to do it free, without a rope or net”
-suggests challenge & potential danger,
alternatively - may imply security he feels when with grandfather that eliminates need for metaphorical safety ‘rope or net’.
-The conceit of paralleling grandfather to mountain introduces motif of exploration & discovery - highlights metaphorical journey of delving into relationship - speaker uncovering layers of understanding & connection along the way.
“climbing has its dangers”
-continues theme of trust in relationship between grandson - grandfather, as hes relying on grandfather to keep him safe.
-continues themes of independence & liberation, contrasting with trust he places in grandfather.
quote about age?
“then up over the forehead”
-inquisitive exploration of speaker reinforces interconnected nature between generations - speakers climbing grandfather, searching for knowledge & wisdom he has culminated over his life.
context
Andrew Waterhouse (1958-2001) was born in Lincolnshire and was a lecturer at an agricultural college in Northumberland.
‘Climbing My Grandfather’ was published in his first collection of poetry in 2000.
summary
The narrator imagines climbing his grandfather, using the extended metaphor of himself as a climber and his grandfather as a mountain.
2) The narrator may be imagining or remembering himself as a child, playing with his grandfather and observing things about him, or he may be using climbing as a metaphor for getting to know him as an adult
form
FORM
-This 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 looks strong and solid like a mountain.
structure
STRUCTURE
-The poem follows a climber’s progress up a mountain from the bottom
to the summit - it feels as though he’s getting higher with each line of the poem.
language about mountains
LANGUAGE ABOUT MOUNTAINS -The extended metaphor of the grandfather as a mountain shows how the grandson sees him - as a permanent, reliable part of his life, and something impressive to explore.
language about exploration
LANGUAGE ABOUT EXPLORATION -The climbing metaphor creates a sense of adventure that reflects the child’s excitement and enjoyment at playing with his grandfather. The child-like way in which he notices and describes things shows how he’s fascinated by the features he discovers.
language about personal discovery
LANGUAGE ABOUT PERSONAL DISCOVERY -The poem can also be read as the words of an adult who is learning about his grandfather - it is adult in tone and uses complex language. The climbing metaphor shows how the narrator is actively trying to get to know his grandfather as a person.
