English Literature PPE 1
Who wrote Follower and what is the poem about?
Seamus Heaney; it explores the speaker’s admiration for his father’s skill as a farmer and the changing dynamic as the son grows up.
Complete the quote from Mother, any distance: “I space-walk through the empty bedrooms, ________________.”
“climb the ladder to the loft.”
What theme is central to Walking Away by Cecil Day-Lewis?
The painful but necessary process of a child becoming independent from their parent.
What is Before You Were Mine about?
The speaker reflects on her mother’s youth before the speaker was born, celebrating her vibrancy and lamenting how motherhood changed her life.
Which poem contains the line: “His shoulders globed like a full sail strung”?
Follower by Seamus Heaney.
What does the metaphor “anchor. Kite.” in Mother, any distance suggest?
It shows the mother as the anchor, providing security, while the child is like a kite, seeking freedom but still tethered.
How do Walking Away and Mother, any distance both explore family relationships?
Both poems focus on the theme of letting go and the bittersweet emotions involved in children growing up and becoming independent.
In Walking Away, what does the phrase “like a satellite / Wrenched from its orbit” suggest?
It symbolizes the child moving away from the parent’s protective influence, highlighting the pain and distance created by growing independence.
What is the tone of Follower?
Admiring but also regretful and reflective, as the speaker recognizes his own shortcomings compared to his father.
In Climbing My Grandfather, how does the speaker describe the grandfather?
As solid, strong, and steady, using mountain-climbing imagery to show respect and affection.
Which poem includes this metaphor: “The slow pulse of his good heart”?
Climbing My Grandfather by Andrew Waterhouse.
What does the poem Before You Were Mine suggest about the mother’s life before motherhood?
She was lively, glamorous, and free-spirited, which contrasts with her life as a mother.
How does Before You Were Mine use the phrase “ghost clatters” and what does it imply?
It suggests the speaker haunting the mother’s past, reflecting on how the mother’s identity changed after having children.
In Mother, any distance, what is the significance of measuring “the walls” and “the floors”?
It symbolizes the speaker measuring their growing independence and the space between themselves and their mother.
What poetic form is Follower written in?
It is written in regular quatrains with a traditional rhyme scheme, reflecting the steady rhythm of farming life.
How does the structure of Walking Away support its theme?
The poem’s steady rhythm mirrors the ongoing passage of time and the gradual process of separation.
What is the effect of enjambment in Mother, any distance?
It creates a flowing, continuous sense of movement, mirroring the ongoing process of growing up and gaining independence.
In Climbing My Grandfather, how does the speaker’s journey up the grandfather’s body symbolize their relationship?
It represents exploring and understanding him, suggesting curiosity and respect.
What feelings does Walking Away convey about letting go?
A mixture of sadness, nostalgia, and acceptance.
In Follower, how is the father’s skill described?
With admiration, emphasizing his expertise and control over the land.
How does Before You Were Mine portray the mother’s youth through imagery?
Using glamorous and lively images, like dancing and bright smiles, to show her vibrant past.
What is the significance of the “second pair of hands” in Mother, any distance?
It symbolizes the mother’s support and help as the speaker grows more independent.
Which poem includes the theme of role reversal in family relationships?
Follower — the son eventually follows the father’s lead but later recognizes the father’s dependence on him.
What kind of relationship is portrayed in Eden Rock (not strictly in the Love & Relationships anthology, but often linked)?
A nostalgic and peaceful portrayal of a child’s loving memories of their parents.
How does Mother, any distance end, and what does it imply?
With the mother’s “recorded sound” breaking the metaphorical tether, implying the child is ready to fully separate.
What does the “satellite” metaphor in Walking Away emphasize about the parent-child relationship?
The painful but natural drift apart as children grow independent.
How is time portrayed in Before You Were Mine?
As a force that changes identity and relationships, emphasizing loss and change.
What does the phrase “will not go away” in Walking Away signify?
The lasting emotional impact of letting go.
How does Climbing My Grandfather use tactile imagery?
To create a vivid sense of closeness and connection through touch.
What is the overall mood of Mother, any distance?
Hopeful but anxious, capturing the tension between closeness and independence.
“If they would rather die... they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Reflects Scrooge's harsh views on the poor; echoes Malthusian ideas Dickens critiques.
“I wear the chain I forged in life.”
Marley's Ghost explains how selfishness binds him in death—warning to Scrooge.
“Another idol has displaced me... a golden one.”
Belle criticises Scrooge’s obsession with wealth, leading to their break-up.
“He has the power to render us happy or unhappy... the happiness he gives is... as if it cost a fortune.”
Scrooge reflecting on Fezziwig—realising kindness is more valuable than money.
“Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”
Symbolises Scrooge’s miserly nature and preference for isolation and emotional darkness.
“Hard and sharp as flint.”
Simile describing Scrooge—shows he's emotionally cold and unyielding.
“Solitary as an oyster.”
Simile suggesting Scrooge is closed off and reclusive—but also hints at potential for change (oysters can contain pearls).
“He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man.”
Narrator summarises Scrooge’s redemption and new identity.
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
Scrooge commits to living by the values of generosity, compassion, and kindness—not just at Christmas.
“Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.”
Scrooge is no longer resisting the spirits. He’s open to learning, which marks a clear shift from his earlier defiance. This moment signals the beginning of his transformation.
What does the Ghost of Christmas Past represent?
Memory, regret, and how the past shapes who we become.
What does the Ghost of Christmas Present represent?
Generosity, celebration, and social responsibility.
What does the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represent?
Death, fear, and the consequences of a life without compassion.
How does Dickens present poverty in the novella?
Through characters like the Cratchits and the children "Ignorance" and "Want", Dickens critiques the neglect of the poor.
What theme does Scrooge’s transformation highlight?
Redemption – the idea that people can change for the better.
What is the significance of Fred in the novella?
Fred represents warmth, family, and the Christmas spirit that contrasts Scrooge's coldness.
How does Dickens use the Cratchit family?
To show the value of love, family, and joy despite poverty.
What is the theme of redemption in the novella?
Dickens shows that anyone, even someone as cold as Scrooge, can change for the better through reflection and compassion.
What social issue is Dickens criticising through Scrooge?
Dickens critiques the lack of empathy among the wealthy towards the poor in Victorian society.
What does the character Belle represent?
She symbolises the love and happiness Scrooge could have had but lost due to greed.
Which two poems in the Love and Relationships anthology explore the theme of parental love and protection?
Mother, Any Distance (Simon Armitage) and Before You Were Mine (Carol Ann Duffy). Both poems focus on relationships between child and parent, showing different perspectives of love and connection.
How do Follower (Seamus Heaney) and Climbing My Grandfather (Andrew Waterhouse) connect in their portrayal of family relationships?
Both poems explore admiration and respect for a family member—Follower focuses on a father-son relationship and skill, while Climbing My Grandfather uses the metaphor of climbing to show closeness and exploration of a grandfather.
What common theme links Before You Were Mine (Carol Ann Duffy) and Walking Away (Cecil Day-Lewis)?
Both poems reflect on family relationships and change over time, focusing on the emotional dynamics between parent and child from different perspectives.
Which poems in the anthology represent the complexities of love within family relationships through imagery and metaphor?
Follower (Seamus Heaney) and Mother, Any Distance (Simon Armitage). Both use strong imagery/metaphor to depict complex emotions of admiration, dependence, and growing independence within family.
How do Mother, Any Distance and Walking Away explore the theme of separation in family relationships?
Both poems show the emotional struggle when children start becoming independent and parents have to let go, highlighting the tension between closeness and distance.
Which poems explore a child's perspective on a parent's past life and identity?
Before You Were Mine (Carol Ann Duffy) and Follower (Seamus Heaney). Both look at how children view their parents beyond their role as caregivers, reflecting on identity and history.
What links Climbing My Grandfather and Mother, Any Distance in their portrayal of family?
Both use physical journeys or actions (climbing, measuring distance) as metaphors for emotional closeness and the process of understanding family relationships.
How do Follower and Walking Away present different emotional responses to family relationships?
Follower expresses admiration and a sense of loss as the son struggles to live up to his father, while Walking Away shows a bittersweet acceptance of a child’s growing independence.
In what way do Mother, Any Distance and Before You Were Mine explore the idea of time in family relationships?
Both poems reflect on how time changes family dynamics—Mother, Any Distance focuses on the present shift as a child grows up, while Before You Were Mine looks back nostalgically at the mother’s past before motherhood.
How do Climbing My Grandfather and Follower use physical imagery to explore family connections?
Both poems use detailed physical imagery—Climbing My Grandfather uses the act of climbing to symbolize exploring a grandfather’s life, while Follower uses farming and ploughing to show the father-son relationship and admiration.
What are the main themes in Eden Rock?
Memory
Family relationships (especially parent-child)
Spirituality / afterlife
Death / crossing over
Nostalgia and idealised past
"They are waiting for me somewhere beyond Eden Rock." — What does this quote suggest?
Suggests the parents are in the afterlife
“Eden” alludes to paradise or heaven (biblical reference)
Peaceful and welcoming tone
The word “waiting” shows calm anticipation, not fear
What is the effect of the detailed imagery in "Her hair, the colour of wheat, takes on the light"?
Natural imagery – purity and warmth
"Wheat" suggests simplicity, life, and a golden glow
Light often symbolizes peace or the afterlife
Creates an ethereal, heavenly image of the mother
How does the structure of Eden Rock reflect its themes?
Regular quatrains until the final stanza — suggests order and calm
Final line is separated: “I had not thought it would be like this.”
Reflects a turning point — the moment of crossing into death
Enjambment mirrors the gentle transition between life and afterlife
What context is important for understanding Eden Rock?
Causley’s father died when he was young — influenced the theme of loss
Poem reflects a comforting vision of reunion in the afterlife
Causley was a Christian — ideas of heaven and spiritual peace appear
The scene may reflect an idealised memory from childhood
"The same three plates, the tin cups painted blue"
Suggests a cherished, humble memory
Simple domestic detail = ordinary life made sacred
Blue often symbolizes peace and calm
Emphasizes nostalgia and timeless routine
"They beckon to me from the other bank."
“Beckon” suggests invitation, not force — a peaceful gesture
“Other bank” metaphorically implies the afterlife
Symbolic of crossing a river = common death imagery
Reassuring tone about death and reunion
"Sky whitens as if lit by three suns."
Unreal, almost supernatural imagery
“Three suns” could represent the speaker and both parents
Heavenly light — suggests purity, peace, spiritual awakening
Surreal tone highlights emotional intensity
"Crossing is not as hard as you might think."
Reference to death as “crossing” — softens the idea
Reassurance from parents — comforting voice from beyond
Contrasts common fears of death
Encourages acceptance and calm
Which quote from Eden Rock connects with the theme of familial relationships in other poems from the Love and Relationships anthology?
"They are waiting for me somewhere beyond Eden Rock."
Walking Away – parent letting go of a child (contrast: here the parents call the child back).
Follower – a son reflecting on his father’s presence and legacy.
Mother, Any Distance – a child stepping away from a parent, with a "fall or fly" moment (here, a return instead).
Before You Were Mine – memory of a parent in a different time.