Long Distance II Flashcards
Who wrote Long Distance II
Tony Harrison
Key themes in this poem?
Loss/ Grief
Mental health/ wellbeing
Why is Loss/ grief an important theme in this poem?
This poem highlights the loss of a loved one and the different coping mechanisms which are involved and used to cope with grief.
Why is Loss/ grief an important theme in this poem?
This poem highlights the loss of a loved one and the different coping mechanisms which are involved and used to cope with grief.
How are mental health and well-being portrayed throughout the poem?
The poem makes clear that the father is not able to cope mentally and emotionally with the loss of his wife. The father can be seen in denial and that his father neglects actual company. The speaker replicates this behaviour in the last stanza.
Two poems for comparison
Dusting the phone (loss/grief)
Love after Love (Well-being)
Quote 1, Stanza 1, Line 1
“Though my mother was already two years dead”
“Though my mother was already two years dead”
Conversational tone, by using a subordinate clause to open the poem.
Quote 2, Stanza 1, Line 2
“kept her slippers warming by the gas”
“kept her slippers warming by the gas”
The warmth of the slippers shows the warmth that existed between the couples. (Double meaning) . Slippers are homely and comfortable which reflects in their loving, enduring relationships.
Quote 3, Stanza 1, Line 4
“still went to renew her transport pass”
“still went to renew her transport pass”
Metaphor that she is only gone for a temporary journey.
Quote 4, Stanza 2, Line 3
“to clear away her things to look alone”
“to clear away her things to look alone”
His father is still mourning the death of his wife, by pretending that she is still literally there with her objects.
Quote 5, Stanza 2, Line 4
“as though his still raw love were such a crime”
“as though his still raw love were such a crime”
The son is not judgemental towards his father’s coping mechanisms.
‘raw’ - adjective, and created imagery of how his wound has still not healed
Quote 6, Stanza 3, Line 1
“my blight of disbelief”
“my blight of disbelief”
Plosive ‘P’ and ‘B’ sound.
Implying a conflict between the father and son due to the fathers behaviour.
Quote 7, Stanza 3, Line3
“the rusted lock”
“the rusted lock”
Metaphor shows his wife’s death was a while ago. Also that her absences have left a decay in her husband’s heart
Quote 8, Stanza 4, Line 1
“I believe that life ends with death, and that is all.
“I believe that life ends with death, and that is all.
Speaker shares his views about death. His ideas are rational and not based on spirituality.
The sentence ends with a full stop to show that he firmly believes and will say no more on the matter.
Quote 9, Stanza 4, Line
“disconnected number I still call”
“disconnected number I still call”
Lost both of his parents.
Sense of unacceptence and he still calls them
Replicates his fathers behaviour.
Structure of poem:
4 stanzas, quatrain..
The consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB, except the last stanza with an ABBA rhyme scheme.
Tone of the poem?
Colloquial Language, conversational tone throughout the whole poem.
Use of enjambment?
