Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-1-summary-structure-and-form [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Love & Relationships](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships.md) › Summary, Structure & Form # Summary, Structure & Form English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Love & Relationships, topic 15.1.1 ## Summary of _Climbing My Grandfather_ Andrew Waterhouse's poem focuses on the memory of climbing his grandfather's knee and the safety of childhood. ### Background ![Background](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/b76ef4ae-ac8c-417c-a23f-173a516b889a/shutterstock_552814417.jpg) - Waterhouse was a teacher at an agricultural college. He was also an environmentalist and musician. - His interest in the environment is shown in the powerful natural imagery in the poem. - Waterhouse also suffered from depression and committed suicide in 2001 - in light of this, it may be interesting to consider the sense of safety in the memory of childhood in the poem. ### Summary ![Summary](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ab35b3bc-f14a-4bf3-9afc-a1a356f22e5d/shutterstock_592648790.jpg) - The narrator looks back on memories of climbing up his grandfather as a child. - He uses imagery and language relating to real-life rock climbing to convey a sense of childlike reverence for his grandfather. ## Structure and Form in _Climbing My Grandfather_ Here are some of the key features of the structure and form in _Climbing My Grandfather_: ### Structure ![Structure](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/243a8eb6-f8d1-4e57-a27c-fa01f5a8b91d/shutterstock_1042338853.jpg) - The poem is in free verse in a single stanza – the poem is practical in its structure, reflecting the serious tone and intensity of the child’s attempt to climb. - Each line of the poem takes the reader higher and higher, so they reach the summit of the poem with the little boy climbing his grandfather. - The poet uses enjambment between lines 5-6 to make the reader change direction of their eyes as the child changes direction. ### Present tense ![Present tense](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ea018f94-766e-4bab-8834-3db96ef2ce4d/shutterstock_608871632.jpg) - Although the poem is in the present tense, this is tempered by the fact that this poem has been written by the poet as an adult. - The tense shows that he is attempting to recreate a childhood memory and make it as vivid as possible. ## Test yourself on Summary, Structure & Form - Which of these professions did Andrew Waterhouse do? - What sort of imagery does the narrator use to describe climbing up his grandfather's knee? - What does the poem _Climbing My Grandfather_ focus on? - Which lines feature enjambment in _Climbing My Grandfather_? - At what age is the poet writing the poem _Climbing My Grandfather_? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/562992d0-2b85-11e8-949b-0fcba71f2ced/section/44b47690-3112-11e8-a183-dddca45157c0/session) - Previous topic: [14.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/14-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - Next topic: [15.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-2-themes.md) ## English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Love & Relationships contents ### 1 When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824) - 1.1 When We Two Parted Analysis - [1.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/1-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [1.1.2 Themes: Death & Loss](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/1-1-2-themes-death-and-loss.md) - [1.1.3 Themes: Time & Anger](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/1-1-3-themes-time-and-anger.md) - [1.1.4 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/1-1-4-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [1.1.5 End of Topic Test - When We Two Parted](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/1-1-5-end-of-topic-test-when-we-two-parted.md) ### 2 Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley - 2.1 Love's Philosophy Analysis - [2.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/2-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [2.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/2-1-2-themes.md) - [2.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/2-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [2.1.4 End of Topic Test - Love's Philosophy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/2-1-4-end-of-topic-test-loves-philosophy.md) - [2.1.5 Exam-Style Questions - Love's Philosophy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/2-1-5-exam-style-questions-loves-philosophy.md) ### 3 Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889) - 3.1 Porphyria’s Lover Analysis - [3.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/3-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [3.1.2 Themes: Porphyria & Violence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/3-1-2-themes-porphyria-and-violence.md) - [3.1.3 Themes: Sin & Pathetic Fallacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/3-1-3-themes-sin-and-pathetic-fallacy.md) - [3.1.4 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/3-1-4-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Porphyria's Lover](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/3-1-5-end-of-topic-test-porphyrias-lover.md) ### 4 Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) - 4.1 Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis - [4.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/4-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [4.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/4-1-2-themes.md) - [4.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/4-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 5 Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) - 5.1 Neutral Tones Analysis - [5.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/5-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [5.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/5-1-2-themes.md) - [5.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/5-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [5.1.4 End of Topic Test - Sonnet 29 & Neutral Tones](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/5-1-4-end-of-topic-test-sonnet-29-and-neutral-tones.md) ### 6 Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957) - 6.1 Letters from Yorkshire Analysis - [6.1.1 Summary & Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/6-1-1-summary-and-structure.md) - [6.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/6-1-2-themes.md) - [6.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/6-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 7 The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928) - 7.1 The Farmer's Bride Analaysis - [7.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/7-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [7.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/7-1-2-themes.md) - [7.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/7-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [7.1.4 End of Topic Test - Dooley & Mew](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/7-1-4-end-of-topic-test-dooley-and-mew.md) - [7.1.5 Exam-Style Questions - The Farmer's Bride](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/7-1-5-exam-style-questions-the-farmers-bride.md) ### 8 Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972) - 8.1 Walking Away Analysis - [8.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/8-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [8.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/8-1-2-themes.md) - [8.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/8-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 9 Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003) - 9.1 Eden Rock Analysis - [9.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/9-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [9.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/9-1-2-themes.md) - [9.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/9-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [9.1.4 End of Topic Test - Walking Away & Eden Rock](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/9-1-4-end-of-topic-test-walking-away-and-eden-rock.md) ### 10 Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) - 10.1 Follower Analysis - [10.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/10-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [10.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/10-1-2-themes.md) - [10.1.3 Quotes and Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/10-1-3-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 11 ‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born 1963 - 11.1 'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis - [11.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/11-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [11.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/11-1-2-themes.md) - [11.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/11-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [11.1.4 End of Topic Test - Follower& Mother, Any Distance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/11-1-4-end-of-topic-test-followerand-mother-any-distance.md) ### 12 Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955) - 12.1 Before You Were Mine Analysis - [12.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/12-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [12.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/12-1-2-themes.md) - [12.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/12-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 13 Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974) - 13.1 Winter Swans Analysis - [13.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/13-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [13.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/13-1-2-themes.md) - [13.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/13-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [13.1.4 End of Topic Test - Duffy & Sheers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/13-1-4-end-of-topic-test-duffy-and-sheers.md) ### 14 Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966) - 14.1 Singh Song! Analysis - [14.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/14-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [14.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/14-1-2-themes.md) - [14.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/14-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) ### 15 Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse - 15.1 Climbing My Grandfather Analysis - [15.1.1 Summary, Structure & Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-1-summary-structure-and-form.md) - [15.1.2 Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-2-themes.md) - [15.1.3 Key Quotes & Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-3-key-quotes-and-comparisons.md) - [15.1.4 End of Topic Test - Nagra & Waterhouse](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/15-1-4-end-of-topic-test-nagra-and-waterhouse.md) ### 16 Grade 9 - Comparisons - 16.1 Grade 9 - Comparisons - [16.1.1 Grade 9 - Comparisons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/16-1-1-grade-9-comparisons.md) ### 17 Recap: Main Quotes - 17.1 Recap: Main Quotes - [17.1.1 When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-1-when-we-two-parted-lord-byron-1788-1824.md) - [17.1.2 Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-2-loves-philosophy-percy-bysshe-shelley.md) - [17.1.3 Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-3-porphyrias-lover-robert-browning-1812-1889.md) - [17.1.4 Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-4-sonnet-29-elizabeth-barrett-browning.md) - [17.1.5 Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-5-neutral-tones-thomas-hardy-1840-1928.md) - [17.1.6 Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-6-letters-from-yorkshire-maura-dooley-born-1957.md) - [17.1.7 The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-7-the-farmers-bride-charlotte-mew-1869-1928.md) - [17.1.8 Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-8-walking-away-cecil-day-lewis-1904-1972.md) - [17.1.9 Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-9-eden-rock-charles-causley-1917-2003.md) - [17.1.10 Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-10-follower-seamus-heaney-1939-2013.md) - [17.1.11 ‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-11-mother-any-distance-simon-armitage-born1963.md) - [17.1.12 Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-12-before-you-were-mine-carol-ann-duffy-born-1955.md) - [17.1.13 Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-13-winter-swans-owen-sheers-born-1974.md) - [17.1.14 Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-14-singh-song-daljit-nagra-born-1966.md) - [17.1.15 Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/poetry-love-and-relationships/17-1-15-climbing-my-grandfather-andrew-waterhouse.md)