The way my mother speaks Flashcards
“I say her phrases to myself”
First person narration, makes it personal and shows the speakers actions
“in my head”
Word choice private experience alone
“shallows of my breath”
metaphor connotations of anxiety, longs to hear the familiar words
“restful shapes moving”
Paradox confusion echoes speakers feelings
“The day and ever the day and ever”
Repetition mimics movement of the train, emphasises loss and how long the negative feelings will last, do not want to forget
“The train this slow evening”
Broad vowels slow it down like the train journey
“browsing for the right sky”
Word choice of browsing connotations of seaching, looking for where they belong right sky suggests there is a place that looks right and suits them
“too blue swapped for a cool grey”
word choice of blue connotations of sun warmth comfort and happiness. cool grey connotations of misery and cold, uncertainty. Focus on lack of perfection in both places
“for miles”
emphasise the distance travelled
“What like is it”
colloquial language and repetition
“the way i say things when i think”
highlights the contrasting identities. The way the speaker thinks and acts are different. Link to roots and background etc.
“Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent”
repetition of nothing connotations of negative feelings, loss, hesitancy and confusion. Sounds in their head so silent but they can hear them as if they are real/overwhelming. double negative shows a realisation that they do not need to abandon roots/ reluctant to forget their mother and past
“What like is it”
Colliquial language and repetition
“Only”
Word choice suggests once in a lifetime opportunity
“I am happy and sad like a child”
Word choice contrast confusion, more confident and hopeful for the future. Simile compares the speaker to a child, suggests innocence and hope as moving in adulthood, connection to past but embracing present to thrive in life
“end of summer”
Symbolises a time of change, growing up and moving on
“dipped”
Word choice of dipped suggests tentative, cautious approach
“green, erotic pond”
metaphor links to growing up and emerging sexuality word choice of pond suggests new depths to explore new experiences exitement
“The day and ever. The day and ever.”
Repetition emphasises the continuing journey and permanent change
“I am homesick, free, in love”
list contradiction of positive and negative, morepositive as journey ends, moving forward, link to past and stay in love with roots and memories which will remain with them
“The way my mother speaks”
repetition full circle return to title free to create own future and remain connected tot he past positive tone to end
theme of the way my mother speaks
childhood, identity, growing up, nostalgia, relationships, emotions. Anithesis of change, links to something permanent, reflects a dialect, conveys a sense of belonging to your roots
Stanza 2
“goes down england” transition change is present through they symbolism of the train journey
“tonight” “who stood at the”
stanza 3 more positive, sense of exitement, bittersweet experience
