Exploring Family Past

Question 1

Poems to Compare:

Answer 1

Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy

Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse

Question 2

Relevant Context:

Answer 2

CAD: 1st Female Poet Laureate in Britain
AW: won 2000 Best First Poetry Collection
Big on saving the environment - bought 10 acres of land to plant trees
Refused Cambridge
Had severe depression - committed suicide at 42

Question 3

Structure/Form:

Answer 3

BYWM: Regular cinquain structure; CMG: one continuous stanza
BYWM: Cyclical structure (starts/ends with memory); CMG: Logical order of ascension
Enjambment in both

Question 4

Language:

Answer 4

Distance from goal - CMG: “trying to get a grip” - metaphorical?; BYWM “I’m ten years away”
Childlike fascination - CMG “pupil slowly open and close”; BYWM: “stamping stars” - alliteration
Effect of exploration = CMG “gasping for breath[…] knowing[…] his good heart”; BYWM: regret? “I wanted the bold girl”