Mother, any distance đŞ Flashcards
Fill in the gaps and give analysis: â_____at the zero endâ â
- âYou at the zero endâ
- D= the speakerâs mother is holding onto the end of of the tape, but on a deeper the level the zero end signifies her presence since his birth- [sheâs always been there his whole life]
- Their attachement is remiscent of an umblical cord- this suggests the mother and son have a deep connection. [But as he moves away, he realises he is becoming more distant]
- Mother is passive + son is active because she is at a fixed point, whilst the son is moving away.
Fill in the gaps and give analysis: â _________.Kiteâ
Hint: L, C + think about what a kite does.
âAnchor. Kiteâ
L= Armitageâs use of caesura juxtaposed with the image of a kite, illustrates how parents find it difficult to let their child go, in order to mature/grow.
C= contextually important because mad illustrates how parents sometimes find it difficult to let their children be independent.
What else can you comment about on the quote ârequires a second pair of handsâ ?
Hint: connection
- perhaps this quote suggests there is a connection similar to the core [and fundamental] idea, that children rely on parents and mothers.
- this is because, they are needed to help children become an adult, care and look after children. [mothers have a specific purpose, which is more than one.]
- therefore this highlights how ultimately the speakers needs his mother.
âthe acres of the walls, the prairies or the floorsâ
Hint: nature
- L= Armitage uses a lexical field of nature/the natural world-âacres and prairiesâ- Aswell as connotations of a large and open space, since a prairie is a large, open area of grassland.
- Moreover, this lexical field highlights how ordinary and natural it is, for children to leave home once they become adults.
- Yet the speakerâs mother, believes the [physical] distance between them will result in an emotional distance between her and the speaker.
What does the cesura in: âthe acres of the walls, the prairies or the floorsâ imply ?
- Armitageâs use of cesura, connotes a sense of a large and open space, that goes further than the motherâs house.
- I= perhaps this implies the speaker is communicating his feelings that he wants physical distance, from his mother [a desire for distance.]
What alternative interpretations link to the quote: âthe acres of the walls, the prairies or the floorsâ ?
- I= Alternatively, the distance the speaker mentioned, is the distance speaker will have left, after he leaves his mother.
- This is reinforced by the hyperbolic metaphor, suggesting the speaker feels overwhelmed and perhaps lonely about living around, as he is surrounded by all the space
What context relates to the quote: âthe acres of the walls, the prairies or the floorsâ
- C= this quote is contextually important because, it reflects Armitage setting up home for the first time, after university.
Fill in the gaps and give analysis: âspace-________
Hint: L, D, C
âspace-walkâ
L= hyperbolic metaphor- this imagery implies that without a force of gravity, the speaker has no clear path and has no aim- so perhaps, this metaphorical âgravityâ is his family which keeps his secure and firm.
ârequires a second pair of handsâ
- L= Armitageâs use of the verbs: ârequiresâ and âhelpsâ, suggests the speaker and his mother have a close relationship- ; he speaker needs his mother and is still dependent on her, as he needs her [emotional] support.
- requires means a need for a particular purpose, and to make necessary- the âsecond pairâ of hands is representative of the speakerâs mother, which is a necessity.
Fill in the gaps and give analysisâ opens on an ____________ to
fall or flyâ
Hint: L + think about natural connotations.
- [ellipsis]
L= alliteration and caesura which furthers the poemâs conclusion, as it ends leaving on âfallâ or âflyâ- its inconclusive.
- âfallâ or âflyâ- the speaker will either succeed and fly, or fall and fail to be independent. This is the moment he is able to make decisions, without the help of his mother.
- suggests that like a bird, independence is natural and he will fly.
- L= adjective- Endless sky represents the endless opportunities of his future, as the reader doesnât know whether he will fail or succeed. ; by ending the poem on âflyâ, perhaps it suggests that the speaker will succeed and fly.
- rhyming structure [couplets] is implemented in the finak two lines, bewteen âskyâ and âflyâ.
This suggests they may have been a return to the speaker having certainity (clarity) after their reflection. Also suggests harmony.
Fill in the gaps and give analysis: â___ _____________of an inchâ
Hint: L- focus on the rhyme scheme + emotionally letting go.
âOne hundredth of an inchâ
- The speakerâs mother is still not letting him go, and her feelings are reluctant because she doesnât want to emotionally let go of him.
L= internal rhyme in pinch and inch to emphasise her desire to not let him go.
What should you compare Mother, any distance to?
- Walking away
- Follower
What are the themes in Mother, any distance?
- family bonds
- letting go
- childhood
- parental love
This is a question about the form and structure of Mother, any distance.
Explain the effect of this: line break after the verb âleavingâ, in the sixth line yet there is enjambement because the line is not end stopped.
- suggests the speaker wants to be indepedent, but is still emotionally attached.
This is a question about the rhyme, rhythm and metre of Mother, any distance.
How does the rhyme change and why?
- as the poem progresses, the rhyme scheme begins to change. The poem begins wing half rhyme of âhandsâ and âspansâ, then it changes to rhyming pairs= showing the speaker and his mother are close, at the start of the poem.
- ; the rhyme scheme then changes to half rhyme once again, but after, the rhyme scheme dissolves and the rhyming pairs break= the speaker has a need for independence, so is this his breaking point ?
- I= alternatively, it could also be reflective of the most significant/greatest physical distance, but also emotionally distance on a deeper, metaphorical level. Is their parental relationships starting to dissolve and break down ?
- then the poem ends on a rhyming pair at the end- âfly, skyâ- to emphasise their bond cannot be broken, regardless of distance.
Anchor ____. What can tell me about how the use of caesura affects the pace?
Hint: which suggests
âAnchor.Kite
- Armitageâs use of singular worded sentences slow the poem down, which suggests the speaker may be feeling thoughtful and reflective.
- Anchor and kite show the conflict in the speakerâs life- he is experiencing confusion towards his mother + his beginning to gain indepence.
- the imagery of an anchor and a kite implies the mother is preventing the son from flying away. (and gaining indepedence).
What can you tell me about the title of âMother, any distance ?â
- L= caesura- foreshadows the whole of the poem, as it links to âdistanceâ [the abstract noun].
- ; the use of âmotherâ instead of mum, could suggest how the son wants to become independent and âflyâ, yet his mother doesnât want to as she still holds onto âone hundredth of an inchâ- this highlights how serious the son is, about gaining his own independence
- I= on the contrary, the phrase âmotherâ has associations of something that is beyond human beings/mankind, since it has connotations of something that is nurturing and caring. For example, in the animal world, it has associations of caring Aswell.
- So by deliberately beginning the start at the poem with âMotherâ, it has a hint of someone who is designed to be âmaternalâ and protective.
What can you tell be about the use of sonnet form, in Mother any distance ?
- mother, any distance is rooted and bases on the form of a sonnet, yet it has an extra line- perhaps it suggests she has to let her son go and have independence, since this is beyond the limits of her, and childhood- the speaker is growing up.
- The motherâs limits in this poem are to be protective and caring, therefore this is further than her own limits.
What else can you tell be about the use of sonnet form, in Mother any distance ?
- ; itâs also interesting to note that the poem is taken from the book of matches. Each poem was mean to be quick and brief to read, likewise to how long it takes for a match to burn down.
- So perhaps this reflects how brief and quick the speaker leaving his mother should be, but she has resistance to it, therefore itâs being extended- is this highlighting how the mother is suffering, since she doesnât want the speaker to leave.
âgreater than a single spanâ
- a span is a measurement of space, from one extended hand to each other and is a very small distance- perhaps this suggestive of how the speaker needs his mother, similar to how she needs the speaker as well- she relies on the speaker, in her emotional anguish.
- there is also a contrast between âdistanceâ, âgreaterâ and âsingle spanâ- perhaps this is suggestive of how the speaker is trying to gain his own independence and grow up; he is binded/tied to his mother- highlighted through the use of the extended metaphor, which is remiscent of an umblical cord.
- aswell as the physical âtapeâ.
âcentimetres back to baseâ
- the noun âbaseâ is metaphorical; it alls means the fundamental part of something, perhaps suggesting that the speakerâs mother is a fundamental base and âanchorâ who stabilises him.
What else can you comment on about the quote âcentimetres back to baseâ.
- it seems that âbaseâ contrasts with âspoolâ as it sounds like something disorderly and chaotic; it also suggests that without a âbaseâ [his mother], the speaker will drift
- this idea is reinforced by âunreelingâ the years between the mother and the speaker, symbolises time- it highlights how long the speaker has known his mother for.
âleaving, unreelingâ
- L= enjambement- at the end of the line, highlights the ever growing distance between the speaker and his mother.
- Moreover, there is a line break after the verb âleavingâ, in the sixth line yet there is enjambement, as the line is not end stopped- suggesting the speaker wants to be indepedent, but is still emotionally attached.
I= ; it could perhaps reflect the speaker growing up, or alternatively, it could also reflect how time is passing.
- this is once again reminiscent of an umbilical cord, perhaps reinforcing Armitageâs message: mothers [and parents] have to let their children go and grow up
What can you tell me about the extended metaphor of a tape in Mother, any distance ?
- the extended metaphor of a tape, is representative of an umbilical cord; it reflects the childâs journey- the speakerâs journey, as the tape is connected to years.
- the mother and the speaker are still connected as she is a âanchorâ and âkiteâ. This is also highlighted, when the mother is still holding on to one hundredth of an inch.
