Material - Key Quotes Flashcards
Ros Barber
“Nostalgia only make me old.”
Being one of the shortest lines of the poem helps contrast this idea against the long, almost rambling sentences of the previous stanza in a relatively abrupt way. It makes a reader question why the narrator has been nostalgic up to this point, which in turn indicates that the narrator feels old in relation to the huge changes in societal attitudes since their childhood. Readers could also interpret that the narrator doesn’t want their children to grow up to a similar situation, as supported by the following lines in the seventh stanza.
“their soft and hidden history”
An object usually disregarded is given new significance in this line, with the alliteration of “hidden history” identifying the importance that an object so simple (and family heirlooms and possessions in general) have had over generations. Some readers may interpret this line as also alluding to the idea of tradition, noticing how the tradition and significance of many possessions such handkerchiefs have been diminished in recent years.
“tissues and uncertainty”
It becomes apparent in the final stanza of ‘Material’ that the ideas of consumerism that are present throughout the poem are just the surface level of emotions that the narrator has, shown through the sadness in relation to the death of their mother. Noting how she too no longer used handkerchiefs, the idea of “uncertainty” is discussed, and that the most important thing was to make the best of whatever situation pragmatically.
