Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse

• Written by:

  Andrew Waterhouse
• Themes:


  Discovery, Family, Admiration
• Tones:


  Firm, Loving, Nostalgic
• The poem was published in...

  2000
• Waterhouse died in...


  2001 after comitting suicide
• Waterhouse was passionate about...


  environmentalism and had an immense passion and appreciation for nature, reflecting in his writing
• The poem is thought to be...

  semi-autobiographical as it reminisces about his relationship with his grandfather from when he was younger
• The extended metaphor of mountaineering is used to...


  describe how he gets to know his grandfather
• Summary:

  Speaker describes how he gets to know his grandfather, comparing it to climbing a mountain, to show it is tiring but holds great rewards
• Big Ideas:


  - Invest time and effort into relationship for great rewards

  - Admiration for grandfather, a large heroic figure

  - Immense impact that positive familial relationships have on children
• "I decide to do it free, without a rope or net"

  - Speaker is active, showing he is putting in effort to get to know his grandfather

  - Connotations of doing it 'free' imply danger and there is risk, but there is trust in relationship as speaker relies on grandfather to catch him if he metaphorically falls

  - 'Rope' connotes a lack of freedom, so perhaps the speaker has independence and liberation, and finds emotional safety in grandfather

  - Lexical field of clothes starts as he begins metaphorical climb with tones of anticipation
• "I decide to do...

  it free, without a rope or net"
• "First, the old brogues, dusty...

  and cracked; an easy scramble onto his trousers"
• "First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked; an easy scramble onto his trousers"

  - Semantic field of old age, which connotes wisdom, suggesting grandfather has advice and experience to offer, showing first benefit of the touch climb

  - Adjective 'cracked' connotes a level of disconnect, perhaps grandfather is not the man he once was and is disintegrating mentally, and explores how grandfather is not as scary as he appears

  - Oxymoron 'easy scramble' sets divide between child and father due to generation disparity, which he must overcome to get to know grandfather

  - Details of his external features show how speaker is yet to get to know his grandfather on personal, internal level

  - Semicolon is a visual representation of cracked brogues
• "By the overhanging shirt I...

  change direction, traverse along his belt to an Earth-stained hand"
• "By the overhanging shirt I change direction, traverse along his belt to an Earth-Stained hand"

  - Enjambment literally reflects how he metaphorically changes direction, perhaps symbolic of nuanced nature of social interaction

  - Metaphor 'by overhanging shirt' shows how he uses grandfather's clothes for guidance, and that the grandfather is a large man, his stomach protrudes like an overhanging mountain ridge

  - Natural imagery 'earth-stained hand' references grandfather's long and touch life, perhaps admiration for hard work in a practical field
• "The nails are...


  splintered and give good purchase"
• "The nails are splintered and give good purchase"

  - 'Splintered' connotes his old age, and touch life, showing admiration for hard work in practical field

  - 'Good purchase' may allude to his wealth of experience

  - Enjambment to physically reflect the 'splintered' nails
• "the skin of his finger is...

  smooth and thick like warm ice"
• "the skin of his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice"

  - Oxymoron 'warm ice' suggests grandfather seems formidable, but is deeply loving and holds inner warmth
• "I discover the glassy...

  ridge of a scar, place my feet gently in the old stitches"
• "I discover the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet gently in the old stitches"

  - Metaphor 'glassy ridge of a scar' suggests grandfather's life has been eventful and he has experienced trauma

  - Adverb 'gently' shows speaker is empathetic to this trauma, which perhaps he learns from grandfather, demonstrating value of healthy familial relationships

  - Grandchild does not question the reason for scarring, as he 'moves on
• "At his firm...


  shoulder, I rest for a while in the shade"
• "pull myself up on the...

  loose skin of his neck to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth"
• "At his firm shoulder, I rest for a while in the shade"

  - Metaphor 'firm shoulder' connotes grandfather to be steadfast; a large strong man

  - Imagery suggests grandfather provides shade, metaphorically providing a sense of security and comfort for the speaker

  - Tone of comfort that the grandfather provides the speaker, trusting him enough to 'rest
• "pull myself up on the loose skin of his neck to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth"


  - Happy connotations of verb 'smiling' imply their positive relationship

  - Metaphor 'drink among teeth' suggests the relationship is replenishing for him

  - Presence of teeth symbolises wisdom and age, he is almost drinking from metaphorical fountain of knowledge, and grandfather has profound impact on speaker

  - Brutal honesty in description 'loose skin' to show the honesty and pure love in relationship, speaker loves grandfather despite these flaws

  - Speaker continues to be active, and grandfather helps him to gain independence as he "pull myself up"
• "up over the forehead, the wrinkles...

  well-spaced and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white at this altitude)"
• "up over the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white at this altitude)"

  - Enjambment to reflect 'well-spaced' wrinkles and resemble natural steps to the summit

  - 'Soft and White' is a metaphor for the snow at high altitudes on mountains, connoting purity to signify the grandfather's honest and pure nature

  - 'Soft' also connotes comfort, showing the grandfather is a source of comfort and security

  - Wrinkles are 'well-spaced' which seems intentional, to perhaps convey admiration for grandfather's natural beauty

  - 'Wrinkles' are also symbol of his old age and wisdom, which grandson admires
• "watching clouds and birds circle, feeling his...

  heat, knowing the slow pulse of his good heart"
• "watching clouds and birds circle, feeling his heat, knowing the slow pulse of his good heart"

  - Resolves the grandfather is a good, tolerant man

  - Heat alludes to oxymoron 'warm ice' which speaker now knows grandfather enough to feel him inner warmth

  - Natural imagery creates a peaceful tone, showing the close, comfortable bond they have built

  - Tone of achievement to present idea that getting to know someone is worth it

  - Birds circling symbolic of limitless possibilities for the speaker, which grandfather helps him to see as he only sees that at the top of the mountain

  - Monosyllabic language of final line to mimic the described heartbeat and add sense of finality to emphasis the grandfather in encompassed with love and goodness
• One single unbroken stanza is used to...

  reflect the daunting journey of climbing the metaphorical mountain OR to sound like a stream of consciousness to reflect disorganised thoughts of a child
• Voice of specific syllable length or rhyme scheme to..


  mirror natural conversation to show their close bond is natural
• Lack of rhyme scheme to...

  demonstrate speaker's childish perspective as he is unable to use sophisticated linguistic techniques to express memories; makes memories feel pure and authentic
• Enjambment is used to show...


  overwhelming feelings of admiration and awe