climbing my grandfather

• Form and Structure


  • The structure of the poem tracks the relationship between boy and grandfather-as the climb gets more difficult, the boy learns more about his grandfather
  • We begin with an "easy scramble", "good purchase" and "gently", and halfway through the poem we "rest for a while"
  • As we end the poem, the action is less to do with the act of mountaineering and more to do with the human relationship between grandson and grandfather, with the verbs "watching". "feeling" and "knowing" conveying the epiphany
  • The single unbroken stanza and lack of consistent thyme scheme accentuate the sense of scale and magnitude of the grandfather- he is an epic mountain waiting to be scaled, and there is no set pamer or 'houte' designed to make the climb easy
  • The present tense creates an intimate relationship between reader and narrator; we climb with him, learning about his grandfather at the same time as him
• Grandfather


  • Instils confidence in narrator
  • Provides a safety net
  • Friendly and approachable
  • Hardworking
  • Complex personality
  • Physically strong
  • Fragile
  • Offers sanctuary and rest
  • Joyful
• Narrator's relationship with grandfather

  • Physically close
  • Allows narrator to discover intimate details about grandfather
  • Narrator in awe of grandfather
  • Grandfather provides warmth, calmness and love
• "Decide to do it free" conveys the confidence the grandfather instils in the narrator, no "rope or net" is needed as the grandfather provides a safety net.
• "The old brogues", much like the base of a mountain, are "dusty and cracked", but this depicts an image of durability rather than old age.
• The grandfather's "wrinkles well-spaced/and easy" reinforce this, a symbol of wisdom and laughter, not aging.
• "Easy scramble" is playful; "pushing" and "get a grip" allows Waterhouse to ease into his climb.
• The guttural "g" sound is strong, suggesting a firm hold, reinforced later when the nails "give good purchase".
• Being closely attached to the rockface and being able to "change/direction" means he can explore every detail, discovering intimate details of his grandfather and what defines him.
• The oxymoronic simile "like warm ice" could suggest a complex personality, yet it may also imply a great deal of strength ("ice") alongside emotional warmth.
• "Scar" and "old stitches" form a "glassy ridge", suggesting past injuries have caused the grandfather to be fragile.
• "place my feet/gently" is a tender image, with "move on" implying he will not dwell on his grandfather's pain.
• "Sell firm shoulder" reinforces his physicality and the sanctuary he provides; he offers "rest" and "shade" in the face of "dangers".
• "drink among teeth" symbolises the narrator drinking in his grandfather's words, and these words "refreshed" him.
• Mountain imagery conveys the awe the narrator feels towards his grandfather. This tone is amplified when he will "stare into his brown eyes" and "watch a pupil/slowly open and close"; he studies him like a piece of art, paying attention to every intimate detail.
• "Thick hair (soft and white/at this altitude)" alludes to clouds or snow.
• At the top of the cold mountain the grandfather provides warmth (heat"), calmness ("slow pulse") and love ("good heart").