Mother Any Distance

Question 1

“fall or fly”

Answer 1

The boy is reaching adulthood, where it’s time for him to make decisions without his mothers aid

Question 2

“breaking point”

Answer 2

This can be extended beyond the situation of the measuring tape to mean a breaking point in their relationship, picking up the idea of the him trying to strain away while she is clinging on

Question 3

What is the whole poem?

Answer 3

An extended metaphor of the speakers relationship with his mother

Question 4

“anchor”

Answer 4

L: metaphor
keeps a boat secure, which is how he feels about his mother
Interpretation:
- she’s a stabilising influence
- she’s restricting his freedom

Question 5

“kite”

Answer 5

L: metaphor
He is flying and she is keeping him on the ground

I:
- maybe he wants to get away from his mother because she’s too possessive, but she doesn’t want to let go
- a kite needs someone to hold and anchor it just as he needs his mother emotionally

Question 6

What is the tone of the poem?

Answer 6

• affectionate towards his mother
• sense of uncertainty
• excited about the future and it’s opportunities

Question 7

What other poems can you compare this to?

Answer 7

• follower
• before you were mine
• walking away

Question 8

What does the structure of the poem tell us?

Answer 8

The sonnet form may reflect the loving and supportive relationship between a mother and son. The poem starts as a formal sonnet but gradually dissolves into free verse, without rhyme and uneven line length which portrays the speaker’s movement towards independence/freedom.

Question 9

What does the poem describe?

Answer 9

The speakers memory of how his mother helped him to take measurements for his new house

Question 10

What are the themes in this poem?

Answer 10

• parent and child relationship
• growing up
• sense of place
• independence/freedom

Question 11

“zero-end”

Answer 11

L: metaphor
I:
- she’s at the end of the tape measure
- signifies her presence at the moment of his birth (been there his whole life)

Question 12

“unreeling years”

Answer 12

L: metaphor
Symbolises time and the length of their relationship

Question 13

What does the caesura between “Anchor” and ”Kite” show?

Answer 13

There is a need for separation and for him to become independent
Also shows they’ve separated and not together anymore

Question 14

“recording” “leaving”

Answer 14

L: verbs
The mother is stationary whereas he is moving around
Signifies how he must actively create his own future

Question 15

“last one-hundredth of an inch”

Answer 15

This symbolises the mother not wanting to let go physically and emotionally

Question 16

What does the ellipsis in line 13 show?

Answer 16

Shows how the mother doesn’t want to let go
D: the internal rhyme “pinch” and “inch” shows her desire not to let go

Question 17

Talk about the structure of the poem

Answer 17

The first two stanzas are quatrains but the final stanza breaks this pattern - this signifies the need to break free of his mothers control and influence

Question 17

What do the rhyming pairs show?

Answer 17

“doors” and “floors” - shows they’re close
then breaks on “unreeling” and “kite”
but then comes back on “sky” and “fly” - shows they will always be emotionally close