Summary
Summary Poem Analysis: The Furthest Distances I've Travelled
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3.3 pages analysing ‘The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled’ by Leontia Flynn. From ‘Poems of the Decade’ for Edexcel A-Level English Literature.
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The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled (Leontia Flynn)Title
• ‘Travelled’ connotes journeys, adventures, experiences
• Both literal (geographical location) and figurative (distance from people and from
the mentality of her youth) distances. Idea that this ‘emotional geography’ of the
people met and memories gained is as significant to who we are as physical
journeys.
• Superlative - suggests the most important, challenging, out of comfort zone,
traversing considerable cultural and interpersonal gaps
• “I’ve” = personal experience, retrospective reflection
Possible themes
• Travel and experience
• Youthful idealism (impulsive, exciting) vs adult realism (bathos, mundane)
• Memories, nostalgic reflection
• Time, ageing and growing up
• Uncertainty about how we should live our lives
• Self-knowledge and evaluation
• Impact of human relationships and connections
Form
• Much of the poem is in couplets – brief connections with locations as she travels
and memories of people
• Varied line lengths – impulsive and spontaneous nature of youthful travel,
unpredictable and unplanned journeys
• End becomes more structured and regimented as she settles into adult, less
impulsive, stage of her life
• Rhyme, often half rhyme (brief connections) creates impetus and drive of youth,
momentum, resolute desire to travel, not tied to a settled and formulaic lifestyle
Voice and context
The poem portrays the shift from the eager, youthful traveller to the mundanity of adult
responsibility, which feels comparatively burdened by fears and knowledge. The poet
persona reflects on her memories from her travel and the way these encounters have
impacted on her life, take on retrospective significance.
Tone is rueful, reflective, contemplative, follows journey of growing up.
Offers no sense of conclusion about the ideal way to live – unsettled, uncertainty about
what is more important and which way of life is preferable. Different ways of ‘finding
yourself’ are all important and valid – rethinks her youthful ideals and impulses to travel
and sees relevance in the connections she made and will continue to make with people.
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