Climbing My Grandfather

• Who wrote Climbing My Grandfather?

  Andrew Waterhouse
• What era is Climbing My Grandfather from?

  Modern
• Who is the voice of Climbing My Grandfather?

  The grandchild
• What is the tone of Climbing My Grandfather?

  Warm and gentle
• What are the two semantic fields in Climbing My Grandfather?

  Climbing and clothing/body
• What relationship is presented in Climbing My Grandfather?

  Grandfather and grandson
• What is the form of Climbing My Grandfather?

  One long, end-stopped stanza
• I decide to do it free, without a rope or net. /

  First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked; /

  an easy scramble onto his trousers, /

  pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip.
• By the overhanging shirt I change /

  direction, traverse along his belt /

  to an earth-stained hand. The nails /

  are splintered and give good purchase,
• the skin of his finger is smooth and thick /

  like warm ice. On his arm I discover /

  the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet /

  gently in the old stitches and move on.
• At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while /

  in the shade, not looking down, /

  for climbing has its dangers, then pull /

  myself up the loose skin of his neck
• to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth. /

  Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek, /

  to stare into his brown eyes, watch a pupil /

  slowly open and close. Then up over
• the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced /

  and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white /

  at this altitude), reaching for the summit, /

  where gasping for breath I can only lie
• watching clouds and birds circle, /

  feeling his heat, knowing /

  the slow pulse of his good heart.
• What words are in the semantic field of climbing?

  'free', 'scramble', 'overhanging', 'traverse', 'purchase', 'ridge', 'shade', 'climbing', 'altitude', and 'summit'
• What words/phrases are in the semantic field of clothing/body?

  'brogues', 'trousers', 'shirt', 'belt', 'hand', 'nails', 'finger', 'arm', 'shoulder', 'loose skin of his neck', 'mouth', 'teeth', 'brown eyes', 'forehead', 'wrinkles', 'hair' and 'heart'
• What is significant about the phrase: 'the old brogues, dusty and cracked'?

  The article 'the' suggests familiarity
• What is significant about the enjambment in the poem?

  It reflects the movements the grandchild is making
• What is significant about the word 'purchase'?

  It suggests security and safety
• What technique is used in the following phrase and what the effect: 'warm ice'?

  Oxymoron - it shows that although the grandfather is warm, his skin is hard
• What is significant about the word 'discover'?

  It shows that the grandchild sees getting to know his grandfather as an adventure
• What technique is used in the following lines and what is the effect: 'the skin of his finger is smooth and thick / like warm ice.'?

  Simile - is a direct comparison of texture to show what his finger is like
• What does the adjective 'firm' suggest about the grandfather?

  He is strong
• What technique is used in the following line and what does it mean: 'to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth. / Refreshed,'?

  Metaphor - describes how the grandfather's smile rejuvenates the grandchild
• What technique is used in the following phrase and what is the effect: 'screed cheek'?

  Assonance - elongates the line
• What is significant about the word 'screed'?

  It often refers to rough concrete which suggests the grandfather's cheek is rough
• Why is the word 'pupil' significant?

  It refers literally to the eye but may also be a metaphor for a student who is learning from their grandfather
• What is significant about the phrase: 'soft and white / at this altitude'?

  It is referring to the hair colour of the grandfather and comparing it to snow, altitude may be referring to his age rather than height
• What is significant about the following line: 'the slow pulse of his good heart.'?

  It is monosyllabic and mimics a heartbeat
• What is the main feeling presented in the poem?

  Inquisitiveness
• What are the key themes presented in Climbing My Grandfather?

  Family relationships and getting older