the repeated use of the same metaphorical idea throughout a text

experiencing conflicting emotions about something or someone

a situation that is unstable, risky or dangerous

two contrasting ideas that appear next to each other

a group of lines in a poem that function like a poetic paragraph

Analysing 'Climbing My Grandfather'

English

In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of love and relationships. In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how Angelou uses her poetry to present strong relationships to people and place. In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different relationships have been presented across time.

Poetry anthology: first study

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Which of the following words means 'experiencing conflicting emotions about something or someone'?

when a writer compares two things using 'like' or 'as'

using three short sentences, one after another

two or more words found next to each other that start with the same sound

giving human characteristics to an inanimate object

He compares climbing his grandfather's body to climbing a mountain.

He compares climbing a mountain to climbing his grandfather's stairs.

He uses lots of different similes and metaphors throughout the poem.

He compares his grandfather to a range of natural landscapes.

He recounts a story his grandfather told him as a child.

How does Waterhouse use an extended metaphor in 'Climbing My Grandfather'?

The poet uses four stanzas, each four lines long.

The poet uses five stanzas, each of which follow an ABAB rhyme scheme.

The poet uses six stanzas, each one a different length.

Which of these best describes the structure of 'Climbing My Grandfather'?

The speaker in 'Climbing My Grandfather' is ambivalent towards reminiscing about their childhood. It could be suggested that they view their childhood memories as ...

"his thick hair (soft and white at this altitude)"

“I can only lie watching clouds and birds circle”

Match each language technique to the correct example in the quotes from 'Climbing My Grandfather'.

someone exploring the grandfather's attic after their death

someone reminiscing about climbing up their grandfather's body as a child

someone climbing a mountain with their grandfather

What is the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' about?

How does the speaker feel at the beginning of the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather'?

A {{ }} is when you compare two things using 'like' or 'as'.

The teacher roared at the class, her eyes blazing with fury.

"I rest for while in the shade, not looking down"

"I change direction, traverse along his belt"

Which of the quotations from the middle of the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' show the speaker is becoming worried about the risks of their climb?

When a writer repeatedly draws on the same metaphorical comparison throughout a text, we call it an ...

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

Starter Quiz