1. ‘Climbing My Grandfather’
Andrew Waterhouse

2. Visual Storyboard – The images tell the story of the poem.
Task: Write the line from the poem that you think each image refers to underneath the image.

3. Q. What is an Extended Metaphor? Which other poem/s use one?
Is the grandfather so amazing that he could only be compared to a mountain?
Is he so tall compared to a small child that he seems like a mountain?
Is he challenging but awe-inspiring?
Does he lift the child physically and metaphorically?
Does he seem so old that he is part of the natural landscape?
Is our lasting impression of the grandfather one which is positive or negative?
What kind of man is the grandfather?
What are his qualities and interests (from what we can infer from the poem)?
Who is the speaker – a young child or a grown man?

4. Andrew Waterhouse Born in 1958 in Lincolnshire.
He was interested in nature and cared about the environment.
He was very academic, but actually turned down a place at Cambridge as he didn’t think he would fit in.
For many years he was a lecturer in Environmental Science in Northumberland.
He was so interested in the environment that he bought 10 acres of land to plant trees on.
In 2000, his poetry collection ‘In’ won the Forward prize for Best First Poetry Collection.
He suffered from severe bouts of depression.
In 2001 he committed suicide at the age of 42.

5. an easy scramble onto his trousers,
STRUCTURE: Present tense – the reader feels like they’re witnessing the climb happening which creates a sense of adventure.
Adds excitement and danger to the child’s game
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.
He feels confident and comfortable with his grandfather, but there’s also an element of risk.
Metaphor for trying to get to know his grandfather
Compares the shoes to the dusty foothills of the mountain – also language about age
Extended metaphor of climbing a mountain – possibly represents life

6. By the overhanging shirt I change direction, traverse along his belt
STRUCTURE: Enjambment reflects the change in direction
This suggests that he has run into difficulty and is trying something new.
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.
Detail that a child would notice from playing with his grandfather. It suggests that he likes gardening. Perhaps he likes nature which is why he is described as a mountain – CONTEXT?
Splintered nails sound ugly, but here they give the climber good grip.
Oxymoron and simile – child-like. It’s affectionate as his grandfather isn’t cold like ice

7. the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet
He’s making progress in getting to know him. Maybe the scar represented something that he didn’t know about him
Just as a ridge is a part of a mountain, the scar is part of the grandfather and something to be explored
The grandson is sensitive and understanding – he doesn’t linger over what might have been painful past experiences for his grandfather
On his arm I discover
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
to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth.
Strong and supportive
Familiar image of a child sitting on a shoulder
The grandfather enjoys playing with the grandson
Possibly a metaphor for taking in the thing his grandfather says. Also shows that the narrator feels better for talking to him

8. Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek,
Double meaning – he is also a pupil because he is learning things about his grandfather
Child –lie fascination with simple things
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
and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white
at this altitude), reaching for the summit,
Screed – a mountain slope covered with loose stones
The grandfather’s white hair is compare to snow on top of a mountain

9. where gasping for breath I can only lie
His exhaustion shows that it has been a difficult climb – he’s been making the effort to get to know his grandfather
This emphasises how the narrator has gained knowledge. The short line and enjambment prepares us for a conclusion
where gasping for breath I can only lie
watching clouds and birds circle,
feeling his heat, knowing
the slow pulse of his good heart.
The child may physically feel his grandfather’s heart and heartbeat, but it also hints at the grandfather's steady and warm love for his grandson
Monosyllabic line slows the pace of the poem, imitating his father’s heartbeat

10. Structure and form Narrative verse – poem tells a story
Parts of the grandfather's body represent parts of the mountain – 2 settings
Enjambment – reflects mountain climbing – short rests followed by intensive activity
Present tense – gives immediacy
Solid block of continual writing – solid like a mountain with longer lines like ledges on a mountain
Logical order – ‘first’

11. Enjambment Inquisitive Closeness Extended metaphor Exploration
Oxymoron
Climbing
Simile
Prepositions
Free verse
Caesura
Mountain
Narrative Verse
Logical Order
Monosyllabic
Enjambment
Inquisitive
Closeness
Extended metaphor
Exploration
Oxymoron
Climbing
Simile
Prepositions
Free verse
Caesura
Mountain
Narrative Verse
Logical Order
Monosyllabic
Enjambment
Inquisitive
Closeness
Extended metaphor
Exploration
Oxymoron
Climbing
Simile
Prepositions
Free verse
Caesura
Mountain
Narrative Verse
Logical Order
Monosyllabic
Enjambment
Inquisitive
Closeness
Extended metaphor
Exploration
Oxymoron
Climbing
Simile
Prepositions
Free verse
Caesura
Mountain
Narrative Verse
Logical Order
Monosyllabic
FREE – CRACKED – EASY – GRIP – OVERHANGING – TRAVERSE – STAINED – PURCHASE – SMOOTH – WARM -SCAR – GENTLY – FIRM – DOWN – DANGERS – LOOSE – SMILING – SCREED – STARE – UP – WRINKLES – SOFT – SUMMIT – BREATH – BIRDS – FEELING - HEART
FREE – CRACKED – EASY – GRIP – OVERHANGING – TRAVERSE – STAINED – PURCHASE – SMOOTH – WARM -SCAR – GENTLY – FIRM – DOWN – DANGERS – LOOSE – SMILING – SCREED – STARE – UP – WRINKLES – SOFT – SUMMIT – BREATH – BIRDS – FEELING - HEART
FREE – CRACKED – EASY – GRIP – OVERHANGING – TRAVERSE – STAINED – PURCHASE – SMOOTH – WARM -SCAR – GENTLY – FIRM – DOWN – DANGERS – LOOSE – SMILING – SCREED – STARE – UP – WRINKLES – SOFT – SUMMIT – BREATH – BIRDS – FEELING - HEART
FREE – CRACKED – EASY – GRIP – OVERHANGING – TRAVERSE – STAINED – PURCHASE – SMOOTH – WARM -SCAR – GENTLY – FIRM – DOWN – DANGERS – LOOSE – SMILING – SCREED – STARE – UP – WRINKLES – SOFT – SUMMIT – BREATH – BIRDS – FEELING - HEART