The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards

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1
Q

I say her phrases to myself

A

“I” - makes v personal

“To myself” - internal nature of thoughts

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2
Q

Or under the shallows of my breath

A
  • 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
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3
Q

Restful

A

Word choice:
- Connotations of the stanza being restful, peaceful.
- No fixed structure, shows meander of the stanza, this mirrors meander of her thoughts

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4
Q

Restful shapes moving

A

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.

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5
Q

The day and ever. The day and ever.

A

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

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5
Q

The day and ever. The day and ever.

A

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

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6
Q

The train this slow evening

A

“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

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7
Q

Browsing for the right sky

A

“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

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8
Q

Too blue swapped for a cool grey

A

“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

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9
Q

What like is it

A

Repetition - her mum is constantly there, positive and negative. Reflects others influence again. Mother’s idiom. Might not be an answer

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10
Q

The way I say things when I think

A
  • 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)
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11
Q

Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent

A

“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

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12
Q

What like is it (end stanza 3)

A

Repetition - another phrase her mum says. Reflects mother’s influence again. (Same point as before)

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13
Q

I am happy and sad

A

Juxtaposition highlights contradictory feelings

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14
Q

Like a child

A

Still feels like a child/feels stuck, yet she’s not completely like one as she’s beginning to ‘dip’ into adulthood

Imagery- simile

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15
Q

Who stood at the end of summer

A

“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

16
Q

And dipped a net

A

“Dipped” - word choice- suggests caution, wariness. Cautious of adulthood

17
Q

In a green erotic pond

A

“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

18
Q

I am homesick, free, in love

A

“Free” - liberated independent

19
Q

With the way my mother speaks

A

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

20
Q

Theme

A
  • Identity
  • Journey

PERFECT POEM FOR CONTRAST Q’S