The Way My Mother Speaks: Overview

“The Way My Mother Speaks: Overview”

General Overview

• ‘The Way My Mother Speaks’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a poetic exploration of the relationship between the speaker and her mother.
• The poem is written in the first person narrative, providing an intimate and personal view of the poet’s experiences.

Setting

• The speaker is on a train journey, physically moving away from her mother, highlighting the theme of separation.
• The physical journey mirrors her psychological journey to autonomy and independence.

Themes

• Language and Identity: The speaker’s mother’s phrases embody her identity, representing a unique form of communication between them.
• Separation and Independence: The journey signifies the speaker leaving her past and mother behind to embark on her own individual journey.
• Memory: The poem emphasises the potency of memories and how they can be triggered by simple phrases and idioms.

Style and Structure

• The poem is written in free verse, reflecting the stream of consciousness and internal dialogue the speaker experiences.
• The use of idiomatic language and phrases demonstrates how language can bring people together and enhance their shared sense of identity.

Imagery and Symbolism

• The train symbolises a journey, both in a literal and metaphorical sense, highlighting the theme of transition.
• The mother’s voice is utilised as a symbol of familiarity and kinship and is an integral part of the speaker’s identity.

Effect

• The text triggers introspection in reader’s about their personal identity, relationships, and the power of lingual heritage.
• The poem cultivates a sense of nostalgia, facilitating an emotional connection with the reader.