The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
I say her phrases to myself
“I” - makes v personal
“To myself” - internal nature of thoughts
Or under the shallows of my breath
- whispering to herself. Shallows, beach image, shallow of sea is at forefront, closest to you. Suggests how these phrases are always at forefront of her head.
- also suggests her mother is always with her, comforting
- positive- comforting, always there
- negative- panic (short, shallow breaths- anxiety), oppression, unpleasant - always there, can’t get rid of her mother from her head, so much so that her phrases are stuck in her head
- contrast of both interpretations
Restful
Word choice:
- Connotations of the stanza being restful, peaceful.
- No fixed structure, shows meander of the stanza, this mirrors meander of her thoughts
Restful shapes moving
Nostalgia- warmth, wanting to look back, wants these words in her head, moving brought to life again
Conflict of her feelings: juxtaposition- restful and moving, restful mood and always on the move, can’t relax, can’t rest. Conflict between both interpretations mirrors her conflict of feelings
Negative- can’t escape, finds these thought invasive and inescapable.
The day and ever. The day and ever.
Repetition of mothers phrases suggests that influenced really important to her
Positive- mothers voice is always there with her, comforting
Negative- mothers voice is always there, annoying, irritating, inescapable
The day and ever. The day and ever.
Repetition of mothers phrases suggests that influenced really important to her
Positive- mothers voice is always there with her, comforting
Negative- mothers voice is always there, annoying, irritating, inescapable
The train this slow evening
“Train”- symbolic of change of Duffy
“Slow evening”- transferred epithet: carries on relaxed mood, deliberate description of not much happening this evening for her, it’s peaceful and calm as would a slow train be
Browsing for the right sky
“Browsing” - word choice: suggests looking, being fine taking some, ease of belonging, being v relaxed, lack of focus, meander.
‘Right sky” - looking for right place, somewhere she belongs, suggests didn’t belong before, was in the wrong place, didn’t feel sense of belonging
Too blue swapped for a cool grey
“Too blue” - vibrant, full of life, attractive, almost childhood had too much, has had enough of being a chid and having mothers voice always there, wants to grow up, too intense, too vibrant
“Cool grey” - dull, boring, unfriendly, emotionally cold, very much so adult life, contrast with childhood adulthood is a lot less vibrant and fun, more dull, uninteresting
What like is it
Repetition - her mum is constantly there, positive and negative. Reflects others influence again. Mother’s idiom. Might not be an answer
The way I say things when I think
- She thinks in a Scottish idiom (shows Scottish background from the way her mother speaks), her mothers voice implies she speaks in a different way.
- confused, belongs to both things, Scottish/English,highlights her internal conflict (dichotomy)
Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent
“Nothing… Nothing” - repetition creates an empty feeling. When her life changes she feels empty and confused. Contradictory statements shows she can’t figure her own thoughts out.
“nothing is silent” - nothing is silent in her head despite everything around her is at peace. Her internal thoughts are in turmoil
“. . (Full stops)” - caesura/full stop highlights division between opposing things. Conflicting statement mirrors the conflict in Duffy’s thoughts and feelings
What like is it (end stanza 3)
Repetition - another phrase her mum says. Reflects mother’s influence again. (Same point as before)
I am happy and sad
Juxtaposition highlights contradictory feelings
Like a child
Still feels like a child/feels stuck, yet she’s not completely like one as she’s beginning to ‘dip’ into adulthood
Imagery- simile
Who stood at the end of summer
“Summer” - word choice- end of childhood, summer suggests fun, vibrancy, joy, all of which are associated while childhood, hence the end of summer suggests the end of childhood and this fun and vibrancy
And dipped a net
“Dipped” - word choice- suggests caution, wariness. Cautious of adulthood
In a green erotic pond
“Green” - naive, childhood colours almost again
“Erotic” - sexually aware, she’s both a child and adult
“Pond” - ponds aren’t clear, they’re murky. Just like adulthood, mysteries of the future, the unknown, also suggests there is still so much to be “cleared” and for her discover, learn, find out
“Green”- growth, progression
“Erotic pond” - symbolises the opportunities of adulthood
I am homesick, free, in love
“Free” - liberated independent
With the way my mother speaks
Positive - mother is always there, fall back, coming back to mother, comfort of home, mother, love
Negative - can’t escape her mother, always there, everywhere
Theme
- Identity
- Journey
PERFECT POEM FOR CONTRAST Q’S
