To My Nine-Year-Old Self

Question 1

You must forgive me.

Answer 1

pronoun etsbalishes a colloquial tone - conversation with her younger self / can also be directed to reader

modal verb puts emphasises the speaker’s desire for forgiveness- adulthood didn’t live up to expectations/disappointing

Question 2

don’t look so surprised, perplexed

Answer 2

complex adult language shows the confusion towards what the adult has become - jxtp with the simplistic lang of child image

Question 3

you would rather run than walk, rather climb than ran, rather leap

Answer 3

listing of active verbs emphasises the sense of freedom in childhood

Question 4

I have spoiled this body we once shared./ Look at the scars…bad back…bruised foot

Answer 4

intrusion of older voice - more serious and grounds us in reality. endstop emph disconnect associated with eth semantic field of injury / worn down

Question 5

we’d jump straight out of the ground floor window into the summer morning

Answer 5

enjambment/ long line shows how she gets carried away in the moment by the happy memory and nostalgia - youth is still part of her identity highlighted by pronoun shift

Question 6

that dream we had no doubt it’s fresh in your mind as the white paper to write it on

Answer 6

intrusion of older voice reflecting on childhood

Question 7

• a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons-

Answer 7

childish images associated with summer higlights the happiness and freedom in youth - bright imagery

Question 8

wasp trap and a den by the cesspit

Answer 8

more serious adult voice and images on childhood

Question 9

time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound

Answer 9

the dated language of speaker highlights the separation between the two ages - mentions of money = adult concerns

jxtp with colloquial lang

Question 10

time to hide down scared lanes/ from men in cars after girl-children

Answer 10

intrusion of more adult images of childhood - covert sense of threat and fear

Question 11

• but no I shan’t cloud your morning. God knows I have fear enough for us both

Answer 11

interruption of adult voice in paranthesis - more somber and concerned question. the dullness contrasts with previous bright image

Question 12

look at the scars/ peeling a ripe scab

Answer 12

structural parallel which jxtp previous pains and disgust to the innocence of childhood curiosity and exploration