Summary
Summary Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
AQA GCSE English Literature Poetry for Love and Relationships - Climbing My Grandfather by Andrew Waterhouse
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ExtendedSense of pride, affection
Ambiguous
metaphor The speaker feels confident and
as well as possession
comfortable with his grandfather but
Present tense Links to simplicity – what there is also an element of risk
– the reader Climbing My Grandfather should be simple, it is complex
He is beginning his journey – compares the
feels like they Adjective – this adds danger and
Shoes shoes to the dusty foot hills of the mountains.
are witnessing excitement to the child’s game
It also about age
the climb I decide to do it free, without a rope or net.
happening, First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked; Metaphor – the climb is getting hard, so he has to get
which createsan easy scramble onto his trousers, to know his grandfather by building a relationship –
a sense of pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip. suggests it might be damaged
adventure By the overhanging shirt I change This suggests that the speaker run into
Enjambment direction, traverse along his belt difficulty and is taking a different approach
reflects The speaker is determined to try and get
to an earth-stained hand. The nails
change of to know his grandfather as it is natural
are splintered and give good purchase,
direction Splintered nails sounds unpleasant, but here they give the
the skin of his finger is smooth and thick
Watershed climber a good drip. This may reflect of old people generally
like warm ice. On his arm I discover
moment – – people don’t value them, but they have a lot to offer
simile/ the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet
The speaker is making progress in getting to know
Juxtaposition gently in the old stitches and move on.
his grandfather – the scar possibly represents a
– it creates anAt his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while
past that the climber didn’t know about
affectionate in the shade, not looking down,
image – the for climbing has its dangers, then pull Just as a ridge is part of a mountain, the scar is
grandfather myself up the loose skin of his neck part of the grandfather and is something to be
isn’t cold like to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth. explore – ‘glassy’ suggests it is fragile
ice The speaker is sensitive and understanding –
Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek,
The speaker to stare into his brown eyes, watch a pupil he doesn’t linger over what might have been
feels satisfied painful past experiences for his grandfather
slowly open and close. Then up over
that he has Climbing imagery turns into the familiar
the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced
made his image of a child sitting on an adult’s shoulder
grandfather and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white Possibly a metaphor for taking in the things his
smile – at this altitude), reaching for the summit, grandfather says. Also shows that the speaker
suggests that where gasping for breath I can only lie feels better for talking to him
they are watching clouds and birds circle, Child-like fascination with simple things. The
getting closer feeling his heat, knowing speaker is learning things about his grandfather
Metaphor – the slow pulse of his good heart. The speaker’s exhaustion shows that it
the was a difficult climb – he has been making
This emphasises how the
grandfather’s the effort to get to know his grandfather
speaker has gained knowledge
white hair is Natural imagery – the speaker has conquered his
of his grandfather
compared to grandfather – sense of achievement, slowly and relaxing
Andrew Waterhouse
snow on top
of the The speaker may physically feel his grandfather’s heat and
mountain heartbeat, but this also hints at the grandfather’s steady
and warm love for his grandson. This simple line slows the
pace of the poem, imitating the grandfather’s heartbeat
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