Eden rock Flashcards
What is the poem about
The speakers memory of his parents and crossing the after life
Context: how does the writers life link to the poem
His father died in 1924 from lung problems caused in world war 1 and he was brought up by his mother whom he cared for in later life
Reader response/ language: the writing begins the poem with the pronoun “they” instead of writing “my mother and father”
How does the opening line engage the reader? What questions do they ask?
The use of the pronoun “they” makes the reader curious and intrigued as to who “they” are
Language: In contrast to the precise description of his mother and father, the speaker uses the adverb ‘somewhere’ to describe where they’re waiting for him. Why?
He doesn’t know what death is like and he can’t imagine the after life. Death and the afterlife is beyond linguistic representation.
Deeper meaning: the speaker describes how his mothers hair has become illuminated by the light. What might this symbolise in religious/ spiritual terms
What does it suggests about the speakers feelings towards his mother
She’s going to heaven/ after life. This also connotes a halo that emanates from her.
He misses her and sees her as an angel
Alternative interpretation: the speaker uses the ambiguous pronoun ‘it’.
What does it refer to?
Afterlife/death. Death is a taboo subject which could be why he doesn’t specifically say it
Why does the writer conclude the poem using a single line stanza? What does he want to emphasise?
The stanza break before final one line stanza represents the liminal space between life and afterlife
