The Way My Mother Speaks

Question 1

'’I say her phrases to myself’’

Answer 1

First person narration, makes it personal and shows that the speaker is repeating her mother’s phrases in her head in order to keep them alive in her memory.

Question 2

'’Shallows of my breath’’

Answer 2

Metaphor emphasises how the speaker longs to hear the familiar words.

Question 3

'’The day and ever, The day and ever’’

Answer 3

Repetition of one of her mothers phrases to the sound and rhythm of the train in order to remember the phrases.

Question 4

'’The train this slow evening’’

Answer 4

Broad vowels slow the sentence down just like the train journey.

Question 5

'’Browsing for the right sky’’

Answer 5

Word choice of browsing has connotations of searching and looking for where they belong, while right sky suggests that there is a place that looks right and suits them.

Question 6

'’Too blue swapped for a cool grey’’

Answer 6

The move from blue to grey represents the change from day to night, and the move from a child to an adult.

Question 7

'’I am happy and sad like a child’’

Answer 7

Word choice emphasises the contrast and confusion that the speaker is feeling.

Question 8

'’End of summer’’

Answer 8

Symbolises a time of change, growing up and moving on.

Question 9

'’Green erotic pond’’

Answer 9

Metaphor links to growing up and emerging sexuality, while word choice of pond suggests new depths to explore and new experiences.

Question 10

I am homesick, free, in love’’

Answer 10

List emphasises the contradictions of positive and negative, more positive as the journey ends, moving forward, links to past and allows them to stay in love with roots and memories which will remain with them.

Question 11

'’The way my mother speaks’’

Answer 11

Repetition shows the full circle and return to title, suggesting that they are free to create their own future while remaining connected to the past.