The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
What are some of the key Ideas in the way my mother speaks?
The theme of transition as the speakers world gradually shifts away from her familiar life with her parents into a life that is more uncertain to her. Themes of change and growing up and relates to originally and In mrs Tilscher’s classroom about how change causes conflict of emotions. Theme of family relationships is also explored.
“I say her phrases to myself”
The first person “I” and the word choice of “her” help to emphasise the speakers point about the closeness of the relationship between mother and daughter here. This emphasises how close the speaker is with her mother. There seems to be a reluctance to let go of those halcyon days spent with her mother and she refuses to let go of her memories of childhood despite being on her way into the adult world.
“under the shallows of my breath”
The word choice of “shallows” indicates the speakers discomfort and anxiety at this massive change in her life. The reader can envision the speakers reluctance to move on in life.
“restful shapes moving”
This juxtaposition acts to highlight the sheer magnitude of change that is occuring in the speakers life in these moments. The train that the speaker is traveling on in this moment makes movement appear restful however the conflicting meanings of these words convey the conflict that is present in the mind of the speaker in this moment. This could also reflect the thoughts of the speaker as she appears to those around her to be restful however her thoughts are agitated and confused with the life that awaits her without her mother.
“the day and ever, the day and ever”
The repetition and use of italics stress the importance of these words to the speaker furthering ideas about the importance of family relationships as the speaker desperately attempts to cling onto her old life that has become so familiar to her. This also acts to emphasise the strength of the bond between mother and speaker.
“Slow evening”/ “goes down england”
The word choice has long vowel sounds that emphasise the length of the journey away from her parents. This reflects how as each second passes the speaker moves further and further away from her past life and gets closer and closer to the unknowns of the adult world.
“Browsing for the right sky”
Word choice of “browsing” here conveys the leisurely and unrushed feel in this moment. One possible interpretation of this being that the speaker has reached a temporary moment of clarity and has managed to calm her thought by repeating her mother’s words. This conveys the conflict in the speaker as a result of the changes that are commonplace in her life as she is agitated in one moment and calm the next
“too blue swapped for a cool grey”
Assonance conveying the conflict within the speaker and the symbolism of “too blue” representing the speaker’s past life seeming almost idealistic and perfect, now seeming too good to be true swapped for the life that she will now lead without her family “cool grey” represents the melancholy and lack of life that the speaker perceives awaits her in later life.
“Nothing is silent, Nothing is not silent”
This contradiction perhaps reflects the speakers anxious feelings about leaving home and conveys how the speaker misses her mother and her affection. This also conveys the conflict in the mind of the speaker as she moves away from her old life to this new life that she believes will be lifeless without her mother’s presence. We as a reader sense the dread that the speaker is experiencing as a result of her moving away from what was once familiar to her.
“only tonight”
Word choice highlights how this is a singular experience and reflects how this journey acts as a crossroads in the life of the speaker as before the journey she was a child living with her mother and once she gets off the train she will be an adult trapped in the world without the daily love and support of her family.
“I am happy and sad”
The juxtaposition highlights how the speaker is sad about having to leave her family behind however now realizes that her future can still be bright. She now looks to the future with some sense of optimism. However this drives home ideas about the speakers uncertainty in life as she is unsure of how she will cope without the reassurance of her mother.
“Like a child who stood at the end of summer”
The simile here compares the speaker moving away from home as a child at the end of summer. Just as a child in the final days of summer dreads returning to their normal lives so to does the speaker dread moving away from her normal life. The comparison of herself to a child also perhaps reflects how the speaker still feels like a child and is perhaps hesitant to take on the challenges that await her in later life.
“Green erotic pond”
The word choice of green suggests growth and innocence whereas the word choice of erotic suggests a more adult theme. Reflecting how the speaker is still transitioning between being a child and adult and is uncertain of which way to act.
“I am homesick, free, in love with the way my mother speaks”
Word choice of “homesick” suggests that the speaker feels nostalgia for the times that have now passed her, and does not want to move away from her family. However word choice of “free” contradicts this showing how the speaker wants the independence of her adult life again representing her uncertainty. “In love with the way my mother speaks” Is word choice that shows the magnitude of the bond between speaker and mother driving home the point of the speaker that no matter the challenges that she faces the words of her mother will always help her through them.
