15.1.2
Themes
Technical Language in Climbing My Grandfather
Technical Language in Climbing My Grandfather
The poet uses technical language to convey the image of a child climbing up their grandfather.
Extended metaphor
Extended metaphor
- The poem uses the language of rock climbing – ‘do it free’, ‘rope’, ‘net’, ‘traverse’, ‘glassy ridge’, ‘screed’, ‘summit’ and ‘altitude' to show the scale of the task of climbing his grandfather.
- Rock climbing acts as an extended metaphor throughout the poem to show how simple life was for the child.
Comical image
Comical image
- The very technical language used in the poem is contrasted to the slightly comical image of a child climbing his grandfather.
- The poet uses complex, adult language to convey a sense of innocence and naivety.
Child's Perspective in Climbing My Grandfather
Child's Perspective in Climbing My Grandfather
Although the poem is written when the narrator is an adult, the poet uses various techniques to show that the memory comes from his childhood.
Epic proportions
Epic proportions
- He presents his grandfather in epic (very large) proportions – the way he would have seen him as a child.
- His grandfather’s scars become a ‘glassy ridge’; his head is a ‘summit’ and his mouth is a ‘river’.
- This reflects the fact that the poet is looking back on a memory that is limited to the perspective of a child.
Tenderness
Tenderness
- There is also sense of tenderness beneath the serious technical language of rock climbing.
- Underneath the mountain image of his grandfather is ‘his good heart’ and the simile ‘like warm ice'.
- This gives a sense of the deep love that the boy has for his grandfather.
1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
Jump to other topics
1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
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