This document provides a thorough revision resource. A clear overview of the poem is written, as well as an identification of key themes and analysis of form, structure, language and ideas. Multiple interpretations are also considered b an A* A level English literature student . Everything you need...
‘The furthest distances I’ve travelled’
This is a coming-of-age poem that explores the themes of youthful energy, curiosity, travel and,
ultimately, the meaning of relationships. The poem is reflective, with Flynn looking back over her life,
with an almost realisation of her loneliness. The idea that time distances versions of yourself.
The key elements of form and structure:
1. The poem is split into 8 stanzas varying in length- some lines only having one word for
example. The sporadic nature of the structure can be attributed to this being a poem of
journeys. The path Flynn takes within the poem is erratic and curious, with the structure
reflecting these attributes.
2. The rhyme scheme in the poem changes as it progresses- in the first few stanzas, the rhyme
is inconsistent and unclear. However, as the poem progresses the rhyme gains increasing
clarity, right to the last stanza in which an AABB pattern is shown. This perhaps represents
the freedom experienced by the narrator when discussing their travels in the beginning of
the poem, with the gradual introduction of a strict rhyme scheme showing greater
restrictions and the patterns of everyday life being imposed. It could also be interpreted as
representing the greater clarity and focus as the narrator has gained as they have aged.
3. Moments of caesura to break the listing flow of ideas being communicated, to focus on
specific imagery to further include the reader in the sense of travel and experience, such as
with the backpack in the first stanza. This helps to make a reader feel more connected with
the narrator, almost as if they have shared the experiences due to the strong imagery, and
therefore more effective at creating empathy.
4. The poem is written in free verse to highlight the lack of stability and freedom she had when
she was younger, but the rhyming couplets may highlight her struggle to control her life as
she gets older.
Key methods used by the writer to convey their ideas
1. Flynn uses the simile ‘spine curved under it like a meridian ‘to encapsulate her love for
travelling in the very fibres of her being, as if the globe is part of her body. The poet’s spine
is a mirror to the earth’s meridian, with the curvature of the earth being embodied through
her posture. This is a geographical link, as meridians are imaginary lines running from the
North to South Poles.
2. Contrast in the begging and ending of the poem, as Flynn depicts the past in comparison to
the present. Freedom of the past lifestyle is conveyed through her descriptions of travelling
around the world and the dynamism of her youth. ‘This is how to live’ highlights that
travelling the world is exciting and something she loves. The absolute certainty of character
is displayed through the grammatical isolation of ‘Yes.’, followed by a caesura and
proceeded by a colon gives the word incredible weight. However, this changes towards the
end of the poem, and domestic imagery conveys the new reality of her present life, with
‘bills’ and ‘laundry’. The structure of the poem also supports this idea that freedom has
been lost and perhaps the speaker mourns this.
3. Flynn’s poem ends by reflecting on the transitory nature of life as she contemplates what is
truly important., with the phrase- ‘the furthest distances I’ve travelled have been those
between people.’ Long after the ‘pressed flower’ has faded, the ‘lives’ she has touched and
experienced, if only for a moment, will continue to be the most important thing. It also
highlights the distance there can be between individuals in a relationship, and the long
struggles it can sometimes take to bring people together.
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