大象传媒

Climbing My Grandfather by Andrew Waterhouse - AQAThemes

The speaker pictures his grandfather as a mountain to be climbed. The poem鈥檚 content, ideas, language and structure are explored. Comparisons and alternative interpretations are also considered.

Part of English LiteraturePoems

Themes

A climber, climbing up a jagged cliff
Mountaineering vocabulary is used throughout the poem to create an extended metaphor

A number of unifying ideas or run through the poem. Different readers may attach more or less significance to each of these themes, depending upon how they view the poem.

ThemeEvidenceAnalysis
Mountaineering: mountaineering vocabulary is used throughout the poem to create the extended metaphor.鈥榬ope鈥, 鈥榥et鈥, 鈥榦verhanging鈥, 鈥榯raverse鈥, ice鈥, 鈥榬idge鈥, 鈥榮creed鈥, 鈥榓ltitude鈥, 鈥榮ummit鈥The speaker鈥檚 enjoyment for mountain climbing is referenced through his use of mountaineering vocabulary to link with the fondness he has for his grandfather. It allows him to compare his grandfather to an impressive natural feature.
Childhood memories: subtly expressed through imagery of the towering grandfather.鈥楩irst, the old brogues鈥, 鈥楢t his still firm shoulder鈥The theme of childhood memories is more subtly expressed by the up-close focus on the grandfather, which concentrates on tiny details of his appearance. It is as if a towering adult is being viewed from below by a small child, who knows the feet, legs and hands of a tall adult very well, but has to climb up the adult鈥檚 body to see his face.
Nostalgia: there are hints that the speaker finds the process of remembering his grandfather a difficult one.鈥榥ot looking down, for climbing has its dangers鈥The difficult process of remembering his grandfather is highlighted through the 鈥榙angers鈥, as long-forgotten grief will perhaps be renewed. Possibly, the speaker won鈥檛 be able to recall his grandfather properly and this, too, could be distressing. It is as if the old man only gradually becomes clear in the speaker鈥檚 memory.
Family relationships: The sense of a very close relationship is conveyed by the details of the grandfather鈥檚 body.鈥榓n earth-stained hand鈥, 鈥榯he skin of his finger is smooth and thick鈥, 鈥榯he glassy ridge of a scar鈥The details of the grandfather鈥檚 features are the kind of details that only someone who knew him intimately could have encountered. Again, there鈥檚 the suggestion of the unselfconscious scrutiny that very young children give to the adults who nurse them and cuddle them.
ThemeMountaineering: mountaineering vocabulary is used throughout the poem to create the extended metaphor.
Evidence鈥榬ope鈥, 鈥榥et鈥, 鈥榦verhanging鈥, 鈥榯raverse鈥, ice鈥, 鈥榬idge鈥, 鈥榮creed鈥, 鈥榓ltitude鈥, 鈥榮ummit鈥
AnalysisThe speaker鈥檚 enjoyment for mountain climbing is referenced through his use of mountaineering vocabulary to link with the fondness he has for his grandfather. It allows him to compare his grandfather to an impressive natural feature.
ThemeChildhood memories: subtly expressed through imagery of the towering grandfather.
Evidence鈥楩irst, the old brogues鈥, 鈥楢t his still firm shoulder鈥
AnalysisThe theme of childhood memories is more subtly expressed by the up-close focus on the grandfather, which concentrates on tiny details of his appearance. It is as if a towering adult is being viewed from below by a small child, who knows the feet, legs and hands of a tall adult very well, but has to climb up the adult鈥檚 body to see his face.
ThemeNostalgia: there are hints that the speaker finds the process of remembering his grandfather a difficult one.
Evidence鈥榥ot looking down, for climbing has its dangers鈥
AnalysisThe difficult process of remembering his grandfather is highlighted through the 鈥榙angers鈥, as long-forgotten grief will perhaps be renewed. Possibly, the speaker won鈥檛 be able to recall his grandfather properly and this, too, could be distressing. It is as if the old man only gradually becomes clear in the speaker鈥檚 memory.
ThemeFamily relationships: The sense of a very close relationship is conveyed by the details of the grandfather鈥檚 body.
Evidence鈥榓n earth-stained hand鈥, 鈥榯he skin of his finger is smooth and thick鈥, 鈥榯he glassy ridge of a scar鈥
AnalysisThe details of the grandfather鈥檚 features are the kind of details that only someone who knew him intimately could have encountered. Again, there鈥檚 the suggestion of the unselfconscious scrutiny that very young children give to the adults who nurse them and cuddle them.

Question

What is the significance of the line, 鈥業 decide to do it free, without a rope or net.鈥 ?

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