Miss McNaughton's Blog – Teaching Resources for students



Finlay: Duffy’s poem “The Way My Mother Speaks” has many similar themes to other Duffy poems such as “Originally” and “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class”. Throughout each of the poems Duffy remembers the difficulties she faced during the transition from childhood to adult hood, which is a common theme throughout all of the poems. In the poem Duffy’s mother phrases comfort her and guide her during this transition.Brodie: “The Way my mother speaks” shares many of its themes with other Duffy poems. These themes are: Transition/Change-Originally Movement-OriginallyChildhood experiences-In Mrs Tilschers ClassNostalgia-In Mrs Tilschers classLove-Valentine Identity-OriginallySexuality-ValentineSafety and Security-In Mrs Tilschers ClassAnxiety-War PhotographerFinlay: Similar to the themes of the poem the tones are present in many other Duffy poems, for example:Uncertainty-OriginallyReassuring-In Mrs Tilschers ClassNostalgic-In Mrs Tilschers ClassAnxious- Mrs Midas Comforting- In Mrs Tilschers ClassCheerful-In Mrs Tilschers ClassLoving-ValentineBrodie: In the first stanza, she describes repeating her mother’s words in her head and under her breath. This suggests that they are bound up with her own self. This union between mother and daughter is emphasised by the brevity of the stanza and the inclusion of the two women in it. The next two stanzas then, could represent the 'journey' or the different stages ahead of the speaker in becoming an adult, which she embarks on, equipped with the close connection she had with her mother.Finlay: “Under the shallows of my breath” – By Duffy quietly whispering her mother’s to herself it suggests she feels extremely anxious, caused by the journey she is on. This may also suggest that her mother’s words comfort her. Also the word choice of “Shallows” implies her mother’s sayings are deeply imprinted into Duffys mind. Brodie: “The day and ever. The day and ever” – This repeating phrase suggests the sound of the train as she travels to England. It also suggests Duffy is repeating the phrases to herself to calm her.Finlay: “The train this slow evening/goes down England/browsing for the right sky” – This is referring to the train journey, however to Duffy it feels as if it is taking forever as the evening is slow. The word choice of “Browsing” suggests the train still hasn’t decided on a destination.Brodie: “What like is it” – This is another one of Duffy’s mother’s phrases and the repetition demonstrates how deeply ingrained her mother’s phrases are in Duffy’s mind. They are a part of Duffy’s way of thinking.Finlay: “Only tonight/I am happy and sad/like a child” – This shows a transition. She then expresses a contradiction of emotions. She could be mourning the loss of her childhood or the fact her mother is leaving her when she grows up. However she is still positive about what her future holds and the fact she will always have her mother’s phrases.Brodie: “I am homesick, free, in love/with the way my mother speaks” – This unites the contradictions that have occurred throughout the poem. “Homesick has negative connotations of escape and reverence. However she now feels “free” with her new identity and to stride forward.Finlay: Throughout the poem Duffy effectively uses a number of poetic techniques:Metaphor: “Under the shallows of my breath” and “Dipped a net in a green erotic pool”Simile: “Who stood at the end of summer”Enjambment: “I am homesick, free, in love with the way my mother speaks”Repetition: “The day and ever. The day and ever” and “What like is it”Assonance: “Too blue swapped for a cool grey sky”Brodie: Thank you for listening and watching ................
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