before you were mine

• Who is the author of the poem "Before You Were Mine"?

  Carol Ann Duffy
• What is the main theme of the poem "Before You Were Mine"?

  A daughter reflecting on her mother's past
• How does the daughter feel about her mother's life before her birth?

  She feels guilty for disrupting her mother's youth
• What does the daughter imagine about her mother's past?

  Her mother had fun and was carefree
• What does the phrase "I ruined your life" imply in the poem?

  The daughter feels she took away her mother's joy
• What does the imagery of the "corner" symbolize in the poem?

  Her mother on the brink of adulthood
• What does the use of alliteration in the names "Maggie, Minini, and Jean" convey?

  It emphasizes the intimacy of friendship
• How does the speaker describe her mother's dress in the poem?

  As a "poka dot dress" that symbolizes beauty
• What does the phrase "the thought of me doesn't occur" suggest about the speaker's feelings?

  She feels insignificant compared to her mother's past
• What does the "Thousand eyes" refer to in the poem?

  The attention her mother received from men
• How does the speaker's tone change throughout the poem?

  It shifts from admiration to guilt
• What does the phrase "you are mine" imply about the relationship between mother and daughter?

  It suggests a possessive bond after birth
• What does the use of colloquial language like "ma" indicate?

  It shows the speaker's desire for closeness
• What does the phrase "the decade ahead of my loud possessive yell was the best one" suggest?

  The speaker believes her mother's life was better before her birth
• How does the speaker's unresolved feelings affect her perception of her mother?

  They create a sense of guilt and longing
• What does the speaker mean by "acting like it's no big deal"?

  She is masking her true feelings of guilt
• What does the speaker seek reassurance about?

  Whether her mother's happiness existed before her birth
• Why is the speaker's question about her mother's happiness tragic?

  She can never receive a truthful answer
• What does the speaker imply about her mother’s status?

  That her mother may have passed away
• What does the phrase "I've ruined your life" suggest about the speaker's feelings?

  She feels guilty for her mother's struggles
• How does the speaker view her mother's life before her birth?

  As a time of happiness and fulfillment
• What does the speaker's use of "best" indicate about her perspective?

  She views her mother's past as perfect
• What does the imagery of "high heeled red shoes" symbolize?

  Her mother's past glamour and youth
• What does the term "relics" imply about the shoes?

  They represent memories from the past
• How does the color red function in the poem?

  It symbolizes youth and contentment
• What does the speaker's longing to "walk in her mother's shoes" suggest?

  She desires to understand her mother's experiences
• What does the phrase "her mother's ghost" imply?

  Her mother is unrecognizable compared to her past
• What does the speaker's use of "synesthesia" reveal about her memories?

  Her memories are vivid and intricate
• How does the speaker's direct address to her mother change the relationship dynamic?

  It reverses the traditional parent-child roles
• What does the imagery of "small bites" on her mother's neck suggest?

  Her mother's romantic youth and playfulness
• What does the term "endearing epithet" refer to in the poem?

  The term "sweetheart" used by the speaker
• What does the "Cha Cha Cha" symbolize in the poem?

  Joyful moments shared between mother and daughter
• What does the phrase "even then I wanted" convey about the speaker's feelings?

  She feels a sense of longing and regret
• How does the speaker view her mother's transformation over time?

  As a loss of sparkle and joy
• What does the poem's cyclical structure signify?

  The contrast between past and present experiences
• What context is important for understanding the poem's themes?

  Duffy's upbringing and societal expectations in the 1950s
• How does Duffy's mother's death relate to the poem?

  It adds a layer of personal grief to the poem
• What societal conventions does the poem explore?

  Expectations of women in the 1950s
• How did the Second World War affect Duffy's relationship with her mother?

  It created perceived distance between them
• What are the key themes explored in "Before You Were Mine"?

  • Guilt and regret
  • The impact of motherhood
  • Nostalgia for the past
  • Societal expectations of women
  • The complexity of mother-daughter relationships