The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
I, her, myself, my
First-person narrative, Personal reflective tone, own experience - she links herself with her mother to show their deep and personal bond
the shallows of my breath
Quietly, but shallow breathing is also a symptom of anxiety - nervous on the journey? Perhaps repeating the words like a mantra for comfort
restful shapes moving
Paradox - the train makes moving restful. The confusion echoes the confused feelings of the persona. The words of her mother are southing her
The day and ever. The day and ever
The use of repetition mimics the movement of the train. The use of italics alerts us to the fact that theses are special words her mother uses
slow, goes down, browsing
The use of assonance in the broad vowels [the use of “o”] slows the reading down, echoing the slowness of their journey away from home
browsing
Word Choice - suggests looking without any real purpose
What like is it … What like is it
Thin sharp vowel contrasts with broad vowels at the beginning of the stanza. Lonely feeling of anxiety
Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent
Contradiction - the double negative perhaps reflects the person’s ambiguous feelings about leaving home
happy and sad
More Contradiction - but using contrast in a more confident and positive way. Childlike descriptions of emotions lead into the simile
The day and ever. The day and ever
Repetition again emphasising that the journey is still in progress
homesick, free
Nostalgia - ready for her new life, leaving the old one behind but still a support to her. Contrast between “homesick” and “free”
the end of summer … green, erotic pond
Beginning of one life and end of another (childhood). Nostalgia for the world of childhood but, new world offers unplumbed depths of possibility to explore
