climbing my grandfather

Question 1

description

Answer 1

the narrator is climbing his grandfather using the extended metaphor of himself as a climber and his grandfather as a mountain
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

Question 2

form

Answer 2

this poem is written is the present tense, following the narator’s journey up the mountains as he’s imagining it. Enjambent imitates the motion of climbing and emphasises the climber’s steady progress.
the poem looks strong and solid like a mountain.

Question 3

language about discovery

Answer 3

the poem can also be read as the words of an adult who is learning about his grandfathrr – it is adult in the tone and uses complex language.
the climbing metaphor shows how the narrator is actively trying to get to know his grandfather as a person.

Question 4

effort

Answer 4

the narrator wants to make the effort to get to knwo his grandfather and to be close to him– this is shown in the physical nature of climb and the exhausion he feels at the end

Question 5

closeness

Answer 5

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