Compare how relationships are presented in “Homecoming” and “Before You Were Mine”
Here is a quotation from "Homecoming" to help you: “a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight”
Now choose which quotation from "Before You Were Mine" you are going to use and write a paragraph which answers the question above
In Homecoming express' the relationshipd bettween parents and their children:
ReplyDelete"A farther figure waits there, wants to set thibgs straight". Thsi shows that parents express a proctective and caring attueriude to their children becuase they want tosave then from harm and pain. The words "set things straight" suggests that they want to hekp their child by sorting out their live and removing anything that could cause pain. Also these words could be that the farther wants to sort out his child becuase he migh be in trouble or not progressing through life as their parents would want. Simlary in the poem "Before You Were Mine" the relationship between parents and children.:
"Your Ma stands at the close with a hiding for the late one". This shows a simlary emphasises on the opinion that parents try to mold their children into what they want and will belive that will progressive far in life. The words "hiding for the late one" suggests that the children need to disaplaned and kept in oreder or they will not reach their parents ambtions. Intresting both poems use the the words " a farther" in "Homeconing" and "Your Ma" in "Before You Were mine" which implies that parents play a huge role in thier childs infuncing their desions and that they can have a strong relationship, but could include angery and disppoint on both sides but since they are faimly they can forgive each other.
In 'before you were mine' Carol Anne Duffy presents a strained relationship between a mother and daughter and portays the daughter feeling guilty for being born and ruining her mothers life "the thoughts of me doesnt occur in the ballroom with the thousand eyes" this imply's the mother could have had a bright future suggesting that this future was ruined by the daughter being born and burdening the mother with a child, that she perhaps didnt want. This could compare with 'homecoming' as simon armitage also presents a strained relationship between a parent and child.
ReplyDeleteIn homecoming and before you were mine, they are both presenting a parent and child relationship. In before you were mine the child shows that life is completely different and free before you have children. "I remember my hands in those high heeled red shoes, relics," this shows that her mother used to be glamorous, but as soon as she became a mother she was unable to wear and do the things she once did. The red shoes relics, implies that she no longer wears her favourite shoes and therefore is different to her previous life and has had to grow up. This is similar to homecoming "a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight." this shows that the "father" has become responsible, by waiting up for the child to return home. It suggests that he has also had to sacrifice part of his life to bring up his child. the phrase "father figure" suggests that he is not the biological father of the child and therefore may not be seen as having as much authority.
ReplyDeleteRelationships between parents and children is shown in "Homecoming" and "Before you were mine".
ReplyDelete"A father figure waits there, wants to set things straight"
This quots is from "Homecoming" and it reveals the father as ambiguous and partly threatening but at the same time wants to resolve the situation. It seems as though the daughter has been waiting all her life for this moment to happen and although she wants to fix the relationship, she is still quite weary. Something has happened between them but it is kept quite secretive. The first stanza is about trust between two people so the daughter and a husband in the future and then the other stanzas are between the father and daughter.However the word 'Figure' could show that the person is not blood related and we do not know about the persons past as its all a mystery. Similarly in "Before you were mine" it is about the relationship between mother and daughter and the reflection on the mothers youth.
in 'before you were mine' the young girl talks about how her mum used to be and the difference in how she acts today. she talks about her past glamorous life and how much better it seemed than her life after her kids.
ReplyDeleteBoth poems 'Homecomming' and 'Before you were mine' illustrate a parents being authoritive and controlling.
ReplyDeleteIn Mother any distance written by Simon Armitage as metophor is used to illustate the relationship between mother and son:
"Anchor.Kite". The word "anchor" represents the mother and how she is trying to controll and protect her son but this can also be betrayed as her being possesive over him by wieghing the "Kite" (metaphor meaning her son the speaker)down. This sence of control potrayed by a parent is also demonstrated in Homecoming:
"a farther figure waits there, wants to set things straight". This quote gives a errie scene and gives the impression that the child is in trouble so the farther is going to set his athority and possibly punish her. how ever the word "straight" suggest that there could have been a mis understanding so the farther is taking contorl in putting things right.
The poem's 'Homecoming' by Simon Armitage and 'Before You Were Mine" by Carol Ann Duffy both show different relationships between two people.
ReplyDeleteIn 'Before You Were Mine' it is showing us a relationship between a mother and a daughter. The daughter is shown to be jealous of her mother's past life
"The decade ahead of my loud, possesive yell was the best one 'eh?"
This quote could suggest that the mother's life was great and fun before she had her. It also could suggest that the daughter may feel guilty in ruining her mother's life.
The poems “Homecoming” by Simon Armitage and “Before you were mine” by Carol Ann Duffy both show how family members can take control of each other which shows that one of them is possessive over the other.
ReplyDeleteIn “Homecoming”, the poet shows that the mother has taken control of her daughter:
“Temper, temper. Questions in the house. You seeing red. Blue murder. Bed”
The pace has increased in this quotation because it has been split up by the punctuation into short sentences. This suggests that the mother is taking control of her daughter’s life. This shows that the mother is possessive of her daughter and that. The quotation also shows that she does not care what her child has to say because the pace suggests that she is not listening to her daughter.
In “Before you were mine”, the poet shows that the child has taken control over mother.
In 'homecoming' relationships between parent and child seems quite violent 'a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight' this sounds like quite a threatening quote as normally when someone wants to 'set things straight' violence can be involved.
ReplyDeletein the poem Homecoming by Simon Armitage the speaker wants his loved one to trust and have faith in him:
ReplyDelete"Those infront stand with their arms spread wide and free-fall backwards" This suggests that his loved one should trust him enough to free-fall backwards into his arms and is there to catch her when she falls. The words "free-fall" implies that she should have no fear falling backwards and should know he will be there. Also that their relationship is quite strong as she is willing to tell him something that troubles her and has done since her childhood.
In comparison to the poem before you were mine by Carol Ann Duffy in the second stanza she imagines that her mother believes she could have a bright future:
"the thought of me doesn't occur in the ballroom with the thousand eyes, the fizzy, movie tomorrows the right walk home could bring." This suggests that her mother cannot keep doing the things she loves and she knows she cannot go have a glamorous life anymore. Also it implies she was a planned child and wanted a future of raising a family. Also it shows their relationship with eachother to be very strong and her child should now understand that she is now the most important thing in her life.
In "Before you were mine" by Carol Anne Duffy and "Homecoming" by Simon Armitage there are different types of realitionships presented between two people.
ReplyDeleteFirstly in Before you were mine there is a realtionship between a daughter and a mother. The daughter explains of her realtionship with her mum that is a little different to normal and how she may have been different before she was born. As the daughter presents of how her mum was more going out and had more fun before she was born and how the daughter feels to her mum;
"The decade ahead of my loud, possesive yell was the boest on eh? I remember my hands in those high heeled red shoes, relics" Which suggest that the daughter may feel guilty of herself as she is very possesive and loud over her mum and so the realtionship between the two of them is not the best. Also the use of explaining the shoes as "relics" can suggest the daughter has been keeping her mum from going out as the shoes are presented as old and unused which is again the feeling of guilty.
Similarly in "Homecoming" a realtionship between a parent and a child is presented and the realtionship within the poem is presented as dominant on one side which would been seen as the mother in the poem;
"Temper, temper. Questions in the house. you seeing red, blue murder.bed" which would be portraying the mother as threatning and imposing to the the child.
Simon Armitage's 'Homecoming' relationships are presented as mysterious and misleading:
ReplyDelete"in silhouette, a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight"
This shows the realationship between child and father to be threatening but at the same time good and well-meaning. The worst 'Silhouette' shows shows the father to be a threatening charecter as he is mmysteriously in the shadows, showing noo features, no emotions.
similarly, in 'Before you were mine" by Carol Anne Duffy, the relationship between parent and child is shown to be threatening and aggressive:
"the decade ahead of my loud, possesive yell"
In the poem "Homecoming" by Simon Armitage the speaker wants his loved one to trust and have faith in him:
ReplyDelete"Where those infront stand with arms spread wide and free-fall backwards, blind". The speaker suggests that, if his loved one confides and trusts in him, he will help to take the burden of the pain they feel. This is shown in the quote "and those behind take all the weight". This suggests that the speaker is prepared to take all the pain and weight if his lover has faith in him.
In Homecoming the relationship is seen as being quite miss leading.
ReplyDelete"a father figure waits there, wnats to set things straight"
The words 'wants to set things straight' can be seen as being well meaning and positive, that the father figure wants to help out and make things better. Although it could also be seen as being quite threatening, as we dont know how this is being said, whether his tone of voice is calm and suttle or harsh and stern.
Similarly in Before You Were Mine the relationship is between parent and child and is seen as being quite threatening.
"The decade ahead of my loud, possessive yell was the best one, eh?"
The words 'loud, possessive yell' suggest that the poet was demanding a baby, and that no matter what she was going to get one. The words 'decade ahead' are like a reminder of the distance in the time between the poet's birth and her mum's youth and fun.
In ‘Homecoming’ relationships are presented in a way in which that the parent is shown to be concerned but caring.
ReplyDelete‘A father figure waits there, wants to set things straight’
The use of the words ‘set things straight’ suggest that the ‘father figure’ wishes to perhaps punish the child as you imagine the tone in which the poem is read to be sharp and short at the end, emphasising the importance and relevance of the father figure waiting. However the father figure is suggested to be concerned as they are described as waiting for the child to return, suggesting care and thoughtfulness shown by the ‘father figure’ as the reason in which the father figure is waiting is obviously of great importance but also patience, as by the use of the words ‘waits there’ suggests that they have been waiting for a long period of time in order to ‘set things straight’.
Similarly, in ‘Before You Were Mine’ relationships are presented in a way in which that the parent is described to also be anxious but considerate.
‘Your Ma stands at the close with a hiding for the late one. You reckon it’s worth it.’
The use of the words ‘hiding for a late one’ again suggest that the mother’s purpose of waiting is to ensure that the child is punished for staying out late, the reader perhaps placing emphasis on the words ‘you reckon it’s worth it’ to highlight the child’s ignorance and lack of care for the parent’s concern. However, the use of the words ‘stands at the close’ suggests the mother does not necessarily wish to punish the child, but wants to ensure that the child is safe as it also suggests that the mother has been waiting for a certain length of time that the mother considers unacceptable but still wishes to wait to make sure the child is safe, again, highlighting the care shown within the relationship of the parent and child.