To My Nine Year Self

Question 1

What is the form of this poem?

Answer 1

Dramatic monologue and free verse

Question 2

What is the basis of the poem?

Answer 2

The poem acknowledges the fondness and nostalgia for the wonder and curiosity of childhood while also acknowledging the impossible divide between maturity and innocence. It suggests one can move on from the past and into a state of peace and acceptance.

Question 3

How are the themes of joy and innocence shown in this poem?

Answer 3

• The speaker realises by the end of the poem she no longer possesses the innocent joys of childhood she once had.
• Her younger self does not worry about physical pain and instead wants to enthusiastically engage with the physical world and seems to embody the power of living in the moment.

Question 4

What does the adult feeling pain when she’s older symbolise?

Answer 4

• Perhaps all this youthful movement is what ultimately led to the adults speakers aches and pain but the speaker harbours no resentment as she doesn’t want to cloud her younger self with the burdens of the future
• It suggests that childhood is something precise and implies its something that mustn’t be tainted by the realities of adulthood