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Summary Poem for my mother analysis
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A thorough, simple and effective literature analysis and possible examination questions for the poem "Poem for my mother" for examination studying and preparation.
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QUESTIONS1a. The opening line, "That isn't everything, you said," is powerful because it
immediately sets the tone of the poem by conveying the speaker's mother's dismissive
attitude towards poetry and her focus on practical, everyday matters.
b. This line shows that the incident is still very real to the speaker because it represents a
pivotal moment in her life when her attempt at sharing something creative and emotional with
her mother was met with indifference and even scorn. The memory of this moment continues to
affect the speaker emotionally.
c. This line sums up the mother's attitude as one that prioritizes the practical aspects of life over
artistic or emotional expression. It reflects her belief that there are more important things in life
than poetry.
d. Another example of the speaker repeating her mother's words can be found in the line, "A
poem isn't all there is to life, you said."
2a. The word "hunched" is emotive as it conveys the physical strain and posture of the mother
as she works over the washtub, emphasizing the arduous nature of her daily chores.
b. The word "hard" is emotive as it not only describes the soap but also symbolizes the difficulty
and unyielding nature of the mother's daily labor.
c. The word "grabbed" is emotive as it suggests a forceful and quick action, highlighting the
mother's efficiency in her work.
d. The word "used" is emotive as it implies the mother's ability to utilize everything at her
disposal, even the words of the poem, for practical purposes.
e. The word "rub" is emotive as it underscores the repetitive and physically demanding nature of
the mother's work, emphasizing her daily grind.
3a. In the line, "the shrivelled burnt granadilla skin of your hands," the figure of speech used is
metaphor. The metaphor compares the mother's hands to the shriveled, burnt skin of a
granadilla (a type of fruit), emphasizing the physical toll of her labor and creating a vivid image
of the worn and weathered hands.
b. In the line, "my words slid like a ball," the figure of speech used is simile. This simile
compares the movement of the speaker's words to a ball, highlighting their ease of entry into the
tub but also their vulnerability to being grasped and used by her mother for practical purposes.
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