The way my mother speaks

    Cards (18)

    • What themes does Duffy explore in her poem?
      Change, new beginnings, family, relationships
    • In what voice is the poem 'The Way My Mother Speaks' written?
      First person voice
    • What does the phrase "I say her phrases to myself" signify?
      She recalls her mother's phrases while traveling
    • How does Duffy's Scottish heritage influence her poem?
      It shapes the phrases she remembers from her mother
    • What does the phrase "under the shallows of [her] breath" suggest?
      She whispers her mother's phrases quietly
    • What does the word choice of "restful" convey about Duffy's feelings?
      She feels calm yet slightly apprehensive
    • How does the repetition of "The day and ever" function in the poem?

      It mirrors the sound and rhythm of the train
    • What does the transferred epithet "The train this slow evening" emphasize?
      The journey is taking a long time
    • What does "browsing for the right sky" imply about Duffy's mindset?
      She is apprehensive about her future choices
    • What does "too blue" and "cool grey" symbolize in the poem?
      Childhood versus the uncertainty of adulthood
    • How does the phrase "Nothing is... Nothing is" contribute to the poem?
      It reflects feelings of confusion and contradiction
    • What does "Only tonight" suggest about Duffy's journey?
      This journey is a unique, one-time experience
    • What mixed emotions does Duffy express in the poem?
      She feels both happy and sad
    • What does the simile "like a child who stood at the end of summer" represent?
      The transition from childhood to adulthood
    • What does the transferred epithet "green erotic pond" imply?
      It symbolizes her future and sexual awareness
    • How does the repetition of "The day and ever" function in the final stanza?
      It reinforces the rhythm of her journey
    • What do "homesick" and "free" suggest about Duffy's feelings at the end?
      She feels torn between her past and future
    • What does Duffy conclude about her relationship with her mother?
      She is in love with the way her mother speaks
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