The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
I say her phrases to myself
“I” - makes v personal
“To myself” - internal nature of thoughts
Or under the shallows of my breath
- whispering to herself. Shallows, beach image, shallow of sea is at forefront, closest to you. Suggests how these phrases are always at forefront of her head.
- also suggests her mother is always with her, comforting
- positive- comforting, always there
- negative- panic (short, shallow breaths- anxiety), oppression, unpleasant - always there, can’t get rid of her mother from her head, so much so that her phrases are stuck in her head
- contrast of both interpretations
Restful
Word choice:
- Connotations of the stanza being restful, peaceful.
- No fixed structure, shows meander of the stanza, this mirrors meander of her thoughts
Restful shapes moving
Nostalgia- warmth, wanting to look back, wants these words in her head, moving brought to life again
Conflict of her feelings: juxtaposition- restful and moving, restful mood and always on the move, can’t relax, can’t rest. Conflict between both interpretations mirrors her conflict of feelings
Negative- can’t escape, finds these thought invasive and inescapable.
The day and ever. The day and ever.
Repetition of mothers phrases suggests that influenced really important to her
Positive- mothers voice is always there with her, comforting
Negative- mothers voice is always there, annoying, irritating, inescapable
The day and ever. The day and ever.
Repetition of mothers phrases suggests that influenced really important to her
Positive- mothers voice is always there with her, comforting
Negative- mothers voice is always there, annoying, irritating, inescapable
The train this slow evening
“Train”- symbolic of change of Duffy
“Slow evening”- transferred epithet: carries on relaxed mood, deliberate description of not much happening this evening for her, it’s peaceful and calm as would a slow train be
Browsing for the right sky
“Browsing” - word choice: suggests looking, being fine taking some, ease of belonging, being v relaxed, lack of focus, meander.
‘Right sky” - looking for right place, somewhere she belongs, suggests didn’t belong before, was in the wrong place, didn’t feel sense of belonging
Too blue swapped for a cool grey
“Too blue” - vibrant, full of life, attractive, almost childhood had too much, has had enough of being a chid and having mothers voice always there, wants to grow up, too intense, too vibrant
“Cool grey” - dull, boring, unfriendly, emotionally cold, very much so adult life, contrast with childhood adulthood is a lot less vibrant and fun, more dull, uninteresting
What like is it
Repetition - her mum is constantly there, positive and negative. Reflects others influence again. Mother’s idiom. Might not be an answer
The way I say things when I think
- She thinks in a Scottish idiom (shows Scottish background from the way her mother speaks), her mothers voice implies she speaks in a different way.
- confused, belongs to both things, Scottish/English,highlights her internal conflict (dichotomy)
Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent
“Nothing… Nothing” - repetition creates an empty feeling. When her life changes she feels empty and confused. Contradictory statements shows she can’t figure her own thoughts out.
“nothing is silent” - nothing is silent in her head despite everything around her is at peace. Her internal thoughts are in turmoil
“. . (Full stops)” - caesura/full stop highlights division between opposing things. Conflicting statement mirrors the conflict in Duffy’s thoughts and feelings
What like is it (end stanza 3)
Repetition - another phrase her mum says. Reflects mother’s influence again. (Same point as before)
I am happy and sad
Juxtaposition highlights contradictory feelings
Like a child
Still feels like a child/feels stuck, yet she’s not completely like one as she’s beginning to ‘dip’ into adulthood
Imagery- simile
