The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
S1
“I say her phrases to myself”
- ‘Her’ & ‘myself’ are possesive pronouns & connote personal, intimate.
- Suggest a close connection
- Internally, Duffy tries to reassure herself, thinking of her mother
S1
“Under the shallows of my breath”
- Connotes anxiety/panic- she’s nervous on this journey, perhaps repeating phrases to comfort herself
- Connotes water- represents soundwaves/speed merging with poet’s breathing. Suggests phrases integral to her existence
‘Shallows’
S1
“Restful shapes moving”
- ‘Restful’ connotes calmness, suggesting mother’s words comforting
- ‘Moving’ connotes change/adapting- speaker leaves home. Uses words to comfort herself
- Oxymoron reflects mixed emotions/ idea of things seeming unreal
S1
“The day and ever”
“The day and ever”
- Repetition to soothe/calm herself
- Rhythm mimics train’s
- Repetitive rhythm comforts her
S2
“Slow evening”
- ‘Slow’ connotes gradual, calming, unhurried. Creates reflective mood.
- ‘Evening’ connotes darkness/ light disappearing. Metaphor for end of childhood. She’s gradually growing up- less dependent but still connected to mum
S2
“Goes down England”
Clear link to ‘Originally’- journey/emigration/moving from 1 country to another & refelcting on change
S2
“Browsing”
Connotes searching uncertainly & unfocusedly. She’s searching for something but what?
S2
“Blue”
- Relates to sky. Connotes carefree, obsticleless- links to uncomplicated childhood
- Also connotes sadness, melancholy- she feels down as her mum won’t be around much longer
S2
“Cool grey”
- Suggests storm is coming.
- Links to “In Mrs Tilsher’s class”.
- Symbolizes problems she may face in the future
S2
“Miles”
- Connotes distance, movement.
- Suggests she has come a long way – both literally on the train and metaphorically – her emotional journey.
- Her mother’s connection/ words/ memory has stayed with her.
S2
“What like is it?”
“What like is it?”
- Use of italics indicates mum’s sayings
- Repetition mimics train sounds & comfort
- Structure (phrases separated by lines) represents growing distance between speaker & mum
- Old Scots phrase- links to heritage (& “Originally”)
S2
“I think”
- Her mum’s voice is in her head.
- Represents their closeness.
- Mum’s words are a part of her identity
S2
“Nothing is silent, nothing is not silent”
- Contrast/structure/paradox
- ‘Nothing’ implies/connotes isolation/aloneness
- Her aloneness with the thoughts in her head is literally silent
S3
“Only tonight”
Suggest transition/journey is unique, not everyday experience
S3
“Happy & sad”
- Contradiction shows emotionalcomplexity- optimism about growing up, anxiety over leaving childhood
- Simplicity of langauge shows while emotions are complex, this is a universal experience
S3
“End of Summer”
- Metaphor represents freedom, youth, fun, childhood
- Symbolizes end of childhood. Looking forward to autumn, change, darkening nights, growing up
S3
“Dipped her net”
Suggests cautious, uncertain movement. Uncertain about outcome & what adulthood will bring
S3
“Green erotic pond”
- Youthful image of child by frogpond.
- Connotes naïve/life/nature/youth
- ‘Erotic’ contradicts ‘green’. Connotes sexual awakening/excitement
- Juxtaposition suggests she’s becoming an independent, sexual being & not a child
S4
“The day and ever”
“The day and ever”
Confusion over transition from child- to adulthood causes her to return to her mum’s comforting words
S4
“I am homesick”
- Connotes dissatisfaction, fear, discontent.
- She is nostalgic for her childhood, her mum and the comfort of her mother’s words.
S4
“Free”
- Connotes independence/ freedom.
- She is liberated from her past.
- She is ready to establish her new identity and travel further in her life.
S4
“In love”
- Enjambment makes us linger on the phrase “in love”
- Uncertainty if she is in love with her new life and freedom OR if she is in love with her past, her childhood, her mother.
S4
“With the way my mother speaks”
- Final line then confirms she is has an eternal bond with her past.
- On this slow evening, she is happy and comforted that her mother’s words come to her.
- She is free but still connected to her family/ supported by her upbringing.
