Summary
Reciprocities for my mother - Cathal Lagan - Full summary
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Reciprocities for my mother - Cathal Lagan1
, Reciprocities for my mother - Cathal Lagan
R Line Analysis
Stanza 1 :
➢ The speaker looks at the process of winding the wool into a ball.
➢ His mother would give him skeins to hold with two hands held wide apart (makes him look like a priest)
➢ He would be given strict instructions to follow by his mother / just like in a church by the priest
➢ He would lose concentration and drop his hands, but his mother would put him at ease.
1 She gave me skeins of wool “skeins”: a length of thread or yarn, loosely coiled or
knotted
Symbolism: "skeins of wool": The skeins of wool symbolize
not only the physical material but also the complexities of
the speaker's emotions and experiences. They serve as a
metaphorical representation of life's intricacies.
Enjambment - where a line continues onto the next without
punctuation, creating a sense of fluidity and movement
2 To hold out (like a priest at Mass), “Like a …”: The mass is at once a memorial and a
sacrifice. In the Eucharistic prayer, the church
commemorates Jesus Christ and his redeeming work,
especially his sacrifice for the sake of all humankind through
his crucifixion.
Simile: To hold out (like a priest at Mass)": The comparison
of holding out the skeins of wool to a priest holding out his
hands during Mass creates a vivid image of the speaker's
posture and the seriousness of the task. The simile also
implies a sense of reverence and solemnity. The poet is
ordered to lift his hands up like a priest would lift his hands
up during a sermon.
This suggests that the act of knitting is sacred ,imbued with
a sense of ritual and tradition. The poet is compared to a
priest at Mass. "
Biblical reference – he was a priest
Enjambment - where a line continues onto the next without
punctuation, creating a sense of fluidity and movement
3 With stern rubrics not to fidget, while she “Stern rubric”: The mother's instructions not to fidget, and
her gentle tug when the speaker becomes distracted,
highlights the importance of focus and discipline in the
creative process.
“rubrics”: Instructions on how a church service should be
conducted.
Contrast: The contrast between "stern rubrics" and "gentle
tug" highlights the difference in approach and attitude of the
person guiding the process. It reflects the balance between
structure and nurturing care.
Enjambment - where a line continues onto the next without
punctuation, creating a sense of fluidity and movement
2
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