Analysis of "Mother, Any Distance" by Simon Armitage

Background

• Author: Simon Armitage
• Published: 1993 in the collection "Book of Matches"
• Form: Part of a series of 30 autobiographical sonnets inspired by a party game, crafted to be read in 20 seconds.

Overview

• Theme: The poem recounts the experience of leaving home - considered a rite of passage.
• Narrative: The poet moves into a rented house near his family home, with his mother symbolically measuring the house with a tape measure.
• Extended Metaphor: The tape measure symbolizes the mother-child emotional bond, likened to an umbilical cord.

Poetic Form and Structure

• Sonnet Variations:

  • 15 lines, diverges from traditional 14-line format.
  • No fixed rhyme scheme or meter, uses varied rhyme types for cohesion.
  • Irregular line lengths but maintains a rhythmic double beat.

• Syntax:

  • Asynthetic Style: No conjunctions used; phrases linked by commas, mimicking the unwinding of the tape measure.

Literary Devices

• Apostrophe: Directly addressing 'mother' despite her absence.
• Metaphors: Anchor (mother's security) vs. Kite (son's potential for independence).
• Imagery:
  • Hyperbolic Metaphors: Use of "acres" and "prairies" to evoke expansiveness and adventure.
  • Space Walk: Symbolizes the poet's journey into a new phase of life.

Symbolism and Themes

• Tape Measure: Represents the passage of time and physical/emotional boundaries.
• Independence vs. Security: The struggle between holding on and breaking free.
• To Fall or Fly: Conveys the dichotomy of failure or success in stepping into independence.

Concluding Remarks

• Armitage intentionally breaks sonnet conventions to symbolize future possibilities outside of the current narrative.
• The additional line emphasizes anticipation of the future beyond the current experience.

Final Image

• Skylight Hatch: Represents new opportunities and choice of outcomes in the future.

Engagement

• Encourage viewers to leave questions or comments for further discussion on English literature and examination techniques.