1. Climbing My Grandfather

2. Climbing My Grandfather
Form
Structure
Present Tense and 1st person
Enjambment imitates the motion of climbing and emphasises the climber’s steady progress
Visually the poem looks strong and solid – similar to a mountain
The poem follows a climber’s progress up a mountain from the bottom to the summit – it feels as though he is getting higher with each line of the poem.

3. Exploration/Mountains
Language AO2
Exploration/Mountains
Personal Discovery
The extended metaphor of the grandfather as a mountain shows how the grandson sees him – permanent/reliable/impressive. Locate and highlight examples of this language.
The climbing metaphor creates a sense of adventure that reflects the child’s excitement – the child-like way in which he notices things shows how he is fascinated by features he discovers. Find/highlight – discuss vocabulary choices/effect.
The poem can also be read as the words of an adult who is learning about his grandfather – it is adult in tone and complex. The narrator is actively trying to get to know his grandfather as a person – “I discover gently” / “watch a pupil open and close” (double meaning)/”reaching the summit gasping for breathe”

4. Attitudes and Feelings
Inquisitiveness – child like curiosity/fascination/small detail
Effort – journey to exhaustion
Closeness – affection/emotional and physical closeness
Context: bonds across generations/heredity/roots/guidance and support to learn and embrace family relationships
Find evidence and ‘explode’ 2 quotes for each ‘red’ word
You will be using these to construct a short response to the question:
How does Waterhouse present the speaker’s process of learning to understanding and knowing his grandfather?
Have at least 4 mini quotes ‘peppered’ through your response.
Remember: topic sentences/method terminology/intention and context point/reader response/some readers may feel…../however