Catrin (4th Form Exams)

what are the 3 key ideas?

• imagery

• juxtaposition

• connection + separation

imagery: “Red rope of love“

• metaphor for umbilical cord

• red = passion/blood

• rope = restriction/entrapment → bound together no matter the conflict

imagery: “In the glass tank“

• metaphor for hospital room

• image symbolises intense, restrictive, emotionally complex nature of mother-daughter relationship

juxtaposition: “Red rope of love“ + “Fought over“

juxtaposition between love + war → extremity of relationship

juxtaposition: “wild, tender circle“

• oxymoron

• “tender“ → relationship is loving

• “wild“ → relationship is turbulent

• “circles“ → cycle and this kind of love = natural part of life

connection + separation: “we“, “I“, “separate“

• conflict between connection + separation

• irony → both speaker + daughter united in desire to separate

connection + separation: enjambment after “struggle to become“

• process of separation

• highlights its meaning/significance

context (3 bullet points)

• reflects on personal experience as mother

• explores changing mother-child relationships in modern society

• highlights tension btw love + independence in family life