1. STARTER TASK: Leave a space for a date and title.
What connotations do you associate with a mountain? What about a climber? Come up with two lists in your exercise book.

2. Listen to the reading of the poem http://www. bbc. co
What impression do you get of the grandfather in the poem? Is there one clear interpretation to make or do you think it’s ambiguous? Can you link your interpretation to the connotations of climbing/mountains from the starter?
The speaker of the poem may be thinking back to his childhood and how he used to view climbing his grandfather as climbing a mountain. Another interpretation could be that as an adult, climbing a mountain now reminds the speaker of his grandfather. Which do you think is more likely?

3. ‘Climbing my Grandfather’
Poem uses a central conceit (or extended metaphor) of the speaker as climber and his grandfather as a mountain
TASK: Several aspects of the poem help to reflect the experience of climbing the mountain. What can you find in the poem that does this? Consider language, structure and form.
Ideas: The poem is structured into a single long stanza which could reflect his lengthy climb. The enjambment (‘run over’ lines) imitates the progress of his climbing. Plenty of references to aspects of the climb create a semantic field of climbing, e.g. “traverse”, “purchase”, “ridge”, “scree”, “altitude”, “summit”… What insight could these references provide into the speaker? At what stage in life is he narrating this poem?

4. What do you notice about the tense here
What do you notice about the tense here? Why do you think the poet decided to use this particular tense in the poem?
What does this description suggest about how the speaker feels about his grandfather/his attitude? How does his view this potentially daunting task?
I decide to do it free, without a rope or net. First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked; an easy scramble onto his trousers, pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip.
What do the references to the grandfather’s shoes and clothing help to suggest about the climb?
The first 4 lines immediately establish the extended metaphor of climbing his grandfather. What do you think this is actually suggesting about their relationship? What is the speaker literally doing, using this metaphor to describe it?

5. The focus here is on tangible things, suggested through the use of concrete nouns. As before, this is helping to chart the progress in his climb.
Technical vocabulary connected to climbing (semantic field of climbing) as here suggests expertise and that the speaker narrates from an adult perspective.
By the overhanging shirt I change direction, traverse along his belt to an earth-stained hand. The nails are splintered and give good purchase, the skin of his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice. On his arm I discover
What do the adjectives here suggest about the grandfather’s lifestyle/his job? What could this also imply about his personal attributes?
What do you think this simile and oxymoron could suggest about the grandfather?
Perhaps the oxymoron here suggests his grandfather is unexpected – in reality, he’s different to how he might outwardly appear to the world. It creates an affectionate image of warmth/love/friendship.

6. The metaphor here portrays a prominent scar on the grandfather’s face – portraying his imperfections, his time-worn appearance. Perhaps there is a story behind this scar that the grandson is keen to know
What does this adverb imply about the grandson’s feelings for the grandfather? Why do you think he ‘moves on’ quite quickly here?
the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet gently in the old stitches and move on. At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while in the shade, not looking down, for climbing has its dangers, then pull myself up the loose skin of his neck
This phrase effectively creates the image of a child sitting on an adult’s shoulders – the adult is strong and supports the child, suggests a good relationship.
It also evokes a reference to the phrase ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’, i.e. Our success is based upon the hard work of others. What does this suggest about his relationship with/attitude towards grandfather?
Shows the grandfather’s age.
What do you think this phrase suggests about the grandson’s attitude?

7. Shows the grandfather’s age.
This could be a metaphor to suggest the grandson is ‘drinking in’ all that his grandfather tells him – his wisdom. This moment creates relief (afterwards he is ‘refreshed’) suggesting he feels reassured/more positive after speaking with his grandfather.
to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth. Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek, to stare into his brown eyes, watch a pupil slowly open and close. Then up over the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced
“screed” means a loose, stone-covered surface – what might this suggest about the grandfather’s cheek?
This is the first time we get a sense of the grandfather’s consciousness in this experience. The use of the word “pupil” could hold more than one meaning – what do you think these could be?
Shows the grandfather’s age.

8. Does this imply effort? Exhaustion (why)? Awe?
The grandfather’s white hair is compared to a snow-covered mountain peak. “Altitude” helps to describe the thin air this high up.
and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white at this altitude), reaching for the summit, where gasping for breath I can only lie watching clouds and birds circle, feeling his heat, knowing the slow pulse of his good heart.
At this point, the speaker can only ‘lie’ and ‘gasp for breath’. What might this imply about what he’s learnt from his grandfather? His opinion of him now?
Does this imply effort? Exhaustion (why)? Awe?
Compare the verb ‘knowing’ to the earlier reference in L4 ‘trying to get a grip’. What does this suggest has happened by the end of the poem?
This is a steady and reassuring final image, with a simple, monosyllabic line to reflect the slow, steady beating of his heart. What does this final line confirm about the speaker’s relationship with his grandfather?

9. Key AO2 features Conceit/extended metaphor Semantic field of climbing
Verbs to convey effort
Enjambment to mimic the progress of his climb/quest
Concrete nouns to help chart his progress – what do these also suggest about the grandfather’s presence in the grandson’s life?
Adjectives to portray him as a hard-working man

10. How could these key words and phrases help you with your interpretation of the poem? Discuss them with your partner:
awe-inspiring familiar domineering
steady reliable desire to really know his grandfather
desire to emulate his grandfather
fond admiration a constant in his life intimidating
a return to old-fashioned values