Mother, any Distance By Simon Armitage Flashcards
What is the form used and why is it important?
It is a broken sonnet (14.5 lines long). It highlights uncertainty as to how he feels towards his mother. Emphasis is placed on the final line, This prehaps highlights how nervous he feels about moving onto a new stage of life. Sonnets are usually abput love - emphaisising how he still wants to maintian a loving relationship with his mother.
What is the extended metaphor used throughout the whole poem?
Measurment and distance.
What is significant about the title?
The word mother is the first word which suggests she is a priority for the speaker. (Titular figure)
What is significant about the last line of the poem?
The verb ‘fly’ implies that the narrators moving away from his mother was successful and postive. ‘Sky’ and ‘fly’ rhyme which suggests harmony and a return to certainty after a period of turbulent reflection.
Context (AO3) ?
- Born in West Yorkshire in 1963
- He is the current peot laureate
- Each poem is a snapshot of his life
What is the significance of the syntactic distance used in the first stanza?
Distance between the words ‘you’ and ‘me’. Mother being gradually forced apart from the son
What Hyperbolic imagery is used?
“The acres of the walls, prairies of the floors.” Evokes a theme of exploration. Reflects the intimidation he feels of the prospect of gaining independence.
What are the themes?
Maternal relationship, Independence, change, freedom
