Growing Distance in Parent-Child Relationship

Question 1

Poems to Compare:

Answer 1

Walking Away - Cecil-Day Lewis

Mother, Any Distance - Simon Armitage

Question 2

Relevant Context:

Answer 2

CDL: Mother died when he was 4; difficult relationship with his father (couldn’t live up to his expectations)
Went to boarding school

SA: Worked with young offenders and as probation officer

Question 3

Structure/Form:

Answer 3

WA: 1st person narrative, parent perspective; MAD: 1st, child perspective
WA: regular rhyme scheme (abaca); MAD: irregular
WA: 4 x 5 line stanzas; MAD: uneven stanzas
WA: Enjamb. + Caes. = speech-like; MAD: Dramatic monologue

Question 4

Language:

Answer 4

WA: “drifting away” metaphorical distance; MAD: literal and metaphorical “you at the zero-end”
WA: “satellite wrenched from its orbit”; “Anchor. Kite”
WA: “half-fledged thing”; “fall or fly”