material Flashcards
summary
Material is a reflective poem about the speaker’s mother, exploring the themes of memory, nostalgia, change, and the loss of traditional values. The title refers to both the physical handkerchiefs her mother used and the metaphorical “material” of life that shaped her upbringing.
themes
- Nostalgia and Memory
The speaker reflects on a bygone era, contrasting it with the modern world.
Symbols like handkerchiefs represent tradition and personal care, in contrast to the disposable culture of today.
- Change and Modernity
The poem contrasts the past’s slower, more personal lifestyle with the fast-paced, disposable culture of the present.
- Parent-Child Relationships
Explores the speaker’s relationship with her mother and her own role as a parent.
-Loss and Grief
The poem deals with the emotional impact of her mother’s death and the changing role of motherhood.
context
Ros Barber draws on her own experience of growing up in the 1970s and 80s, which informs the poem’s reflections on generational change.
- The poem highlights how modern consumer culture has moved away from sustainable, personal practices like using handkerchiefs. It critiques the loss of tangible connections in favor of convenience.
The opening line establishes the central metaphor of the handkerchief as a symbol of tradition, care, and resourcefulness.
The lighthearted tone reflects a fond memory of her mother, contrasting with the later, more somber tone as the poem progresses.
“My mother was the hanky queen”
This imagery emphasizes her mother’s preparedness and nurturing nature, aligning with traditional notions of motherhood.
The word “material” doubles as a pun, suggesting both the physical cloth and the substance of her mother’s values and legacy.
“When hankies were material she’d have one, always, up her sleeve.”
The handkerchief becomes a symbol of continuity and shared experience across life’s significant moments.
The tricolon (“weddings, christenings and funerals”) conveys the cyclical nature of life and the importance of tradition.
“It was a hanky by the time a gift for weddings, christenings and funerals.”
The speaker acknowledges the limitations of dwelling on the past, hinting at a sense of regret or frustration with her longing for earlier times.
This line shifts the tone, introducing a more reflective and bittersweet perspective.
“Nostalgia only makes me old.”
The speaker recognizes the generational shift and accepts her own responsibility in shaping her children’s lives.
The phrase “your material” suggests a passing of values and traditions, even as they evolve.
“This is your material to do with, daughter, what you will.”
The juxtaposition of “innocence” with the loss brought by modern technology critiques the passive entertainment of television and its impact on family life.
The simile comparing innocence to “ten-bob notes” adds a nostalgic tone, referencing a currency now obsolete, symbolizing lost values.
“The innocence I want my brood to cling on to like ten-bob notes was killed in TV’s lassitude.”
This image reflects the simplicity and frugality of her mother’s generation, contrasting with the wastefulness of modern convenience.
It reinforces the theme of resourcefulness and an era where nothing was disposable.
“The jotting of a shopping list on the back of the envelope.”
The declarative tone underscores the speaker’s acknowledgment that the traditions and values of her mother’s time don’t belong to her.
The use of “material” again emphasizes the tangibility of the past compared to the ephemeral nature of the present.
“It isn’t mine. I miss material handkerchiefs.”
The hyperbole of “a crime against humanity” suggests the pressure to conform to modern, fast-paced lifestyles that leave little room for tradition.
The line critiques the dismissive attitude toward nostalgia in a world driven by progress.
“But it would have been a crime / against humanity to feel nostalgia.”
The reference to “ladies” evokes a time when gender roles were more defined, with women occupying nurturing and community-centered positions.
This line reflects the loss of interpersonal connection and community in modern society.
“A nostalgia for the way things were / when ladies served behind the counters.”
