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0
lily purdy
15/09/2023
English Literature
analysis of the poem “Before you were mine” by carol Anne duffy
533
•
15 Sept 2023
•
Fun Guide: Before You Were Mine Poem by Carol Ann Duffy
lily purdy
@lilypurdy_sxuk
Page 2: Reflections and Memories
The second page of "Before You Were Mine" delves deeper into the speaker's reflections on her mother's past and their shared memories. The poem shifts between past and present tense, creating a dynamic interplay between different time periods.
The speaker imagines her mother's life in the decade before her birth as "the best one," suggesting a bittersweet acknowledgment of how motherhood changed her mother's life. This sentiment is captured in the line "The decade ahead of my loud possessive yell was the best one, eh?"
Quote: "I remember my hands in those high-heeled red shoes, relics..."
This vivid image connects the speaker's childhood experiences with her mother's past, symbolizing how the daughter has, in a sense, stepped into her mother's shoes.
The poem continues to alternate between memories of the mother's youth and the speaker's childhood experiences with her. This structure reinforces the theme of generational connections and the passage of time.
Highlight: The poem's structure, alternating between past and present, reflects the complex relationship between mother and daughter across time.
Duffy employs sarcasm and comparison to highlight the contrast between her mother's carefree youth and her later life as a parent. The speaker remembers learning to dance from her mother, a poignant detail that links the mother's past as a vivacious dancer with her role as a parent.
The poem concludes with a return to the past, describing the mother "somewhere in Scotland, before I was born." This ending emphasizes the central theme of the poem: the exploration of a parent's identity before parenthood and the complex emotions this realization evokes in a child.
Example: The line "That glamorous love lasts where you sparkle and waltz and laugh before you were mine" encapsulates the poem's bittersweet tone, acknowledging both the beauty of the mother's youth and the inevitable changes brought by parenthood.
Page 1: Before You Were Mine - Setting the Scene
Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Before You Were Mine" opens with a powerful exploration of time and perspective. The speaker, presumably Duffy herself, reflects on her mother's life before she was born.
The poem begins with the line "I'm ten years away from the corner you laugh on," immediately establishing a temporal distance between the speaker and the subject. This use of present tense creates a vivid, immediate image, despite the historical nature of the scene being described.
Highlight: The present tense is used throughout the poem to create a sense of immediacy and vividness, bringing past events to life.
The speaker describes a photograph of her mother with friends, Maggie McGeeney and Jean Duffy, bent at the waist and laughing on a street corner. This image captures the carefree spirit of youth, contrasting sharply with the implied responsibilities of motherhood that would come later.
Quote: "Your polka-dot dress blows round your legs. Marilyn."
This comparison to Marilyn Monroe emphasizes the glamour and vitality of the mother's youth, creating a stark contrast with her later role as a parent.
The poem then shifts to describe the mother's life before the thought of children, dancing in ballrooms and enjoying the attention of men. This portrayal of the mother's vibrant social life serves to humanize her, presenting her as a complex individual with desires and experiences beyond her role as a parent.
Vocabulary: Omniscient - all-knowing or all-seeing. In this context, it refers to the speaker's ability to describe events that occurred before her birth.
The structure of the poem alternates between descriptions of photographs and imagined scenes from the mother's youth, creating a layered narrative that spans different time periods.
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Fun Guide: Before You Were Mine Poem by Carol Ann Duffy
lily purdy
@lilypurdy_sxuk
Before You Were Mine by Carol Ann Duffy is a poignant exploration of a daughter's perspective on her mother's youth. This Carol Ann Duffy poem, part of the GCSE anthology, delves into themes of time, memory, and the... Show more
Page 2: Reflections and Memories
The second page of "Before You Were Mine" delves deeper into the speaker's reflections on her mother's past and their shared memories. The poem shifts between past and present tense, creating a dynamic interplay between different time periods.
The speaker imagines her mother's life in the decade before her birth as "the best one," suggesting a bittersweet acknowledgment of how motherhood changed her mother's life. This sentiment is captured in the line "The decade ahead of my loud possessive yell was the best one, eh?"
Quote: "I remember my hands in those high-heeled red shoes, relics..."
This vivid image connects the speaker's childhood experiences with her mother's past, symbolizing how the daughter has, in a sense, stepped into her mother's shoes.
The poem continues to alternate between memories of the mother's youth and the speaker's childhood experiences with her. This structure reinforces the theme of generational connections and the passage of time.
Highlight: The poem's structure, alternating between past and present, reflects the complex relationship between mother and daughter across time.
Duffy employs sarcasm and comparison to highlight the contrast between her mother's carefree youth and her later life as a parent. The speaker remembers learning to dance from her mother, a poignant detail that links the mother's past as a vivacious dancer with her role as a parent.
The poem concludes with a return to the past, describing the mother "somewhere in Scotland, before I was born." This ending emphasizes the central theme of the poem: the exploration of a parent's identity before parenthood and the complex emotions this realization evokes in a child.
Example: The line "That glamorous love lasts where you sparkle and waltz and laugh before you were mine" encapsulates the poem's bittersweet tone, acknowledging both the beauty of the mother's youth and the inevitable changes brought by parenthood.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Page 1: Before You Were Mine - Setting the Scene
Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Before You Were Mine" opens with a powerful exploration of time and perspective. The speaker, presumably Duffy herself, reflects on her mother's life before she was born.
The poem begins with the line "I'm ten years away from the corner you laugh on," immediately establishing a temporal distance between the speaker and the subject. This use of present tense creates a vivid, immediate image, despite the historical nature of the scene being described.
Highlight: The present tense is used throughout the poem to create a sense of immediacy and vividness, bringing past events to life.
The speaker describes a photograph of her mother with friends, Maggie McGeeney and Jean Duffy, bent at the waist and laughing on a street corner. This image captures the carefree spirit of youth, contrasting sharply with the implied responsibilities of motherhood that would come later.
Quote: "Your polka-dot dress blows round your legs. Marilyn."
This comparison to Marilyn Monroe emphasizes the glamour and vitality of the mother's youth, creating a stark contrast with her later role as a parent.
The poem then shifts to describe the mother's life before the thought of children, dancing in ballrooms and enjoying the attention of men. This portrayal of the mother's vibrant social life serves to humanize her, presenting her as a complex individual with desires and experiences beyond her role as a parent.
Vocabulary: Omniscient - all-knowing or all-seeing. In this context, it refers to the speaker's ability to describe events that occurred before her birth.
The structure of the poem alternates between descriptions of photographs and imagined scenes from the mother's youth, creating a layered narrative that spans different time periods.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user