GCSE (9-1): Literature: Poetry: AQA Love and Relationships: Before You Were Mine: Quotes

meaning of the title, 'Before You Were Mine'

The possessive adjective/pronoun 'Mine' in the title suggests that women are not in control of their own lives. It suggests that child-rearing essentially robs women of freedom because of the need to be a stay-at-home-mother - the child takes possession of the mother, rather than the other way around

'I'm ten years away'

creates a sort of 'looming shadow' over the image of female enjoyment Duffy later pains through language such as 'laugh', 'pals', 'shriek at the pavement', 'polka dot dress' and 'Marilyn' - there is an inevitability that those moments of laughter are due to come to an end

Your polka-dot dress blows round your legs. Marilyn.'

Allusion to Marilyn Manroe and the polka-dot dress suggests that the poem is set in the 1940's or 1950's, just before Duffy was born

Marilyn.'

Marilyn Munroe represented the social revolution of the time which was characterised by young people's rejection of their parents' restrictions; they began an 'ungrateful' rebellious era of rock-and-roll music, extravagant full-skirted dresses, loosening of pre-marital restrictions and rejection of parental controls and values

The thought of me doesn't occur'

a hint of jealousy here

I knew you would dance like that'

suggests Duffy has always known, with some certainty, what her mother would dance like, implying she feels she knows her mother well and the strong bond between them

your Ma stands at the close / with a hiding for the late one. You reckon it's worth it.'

symbolises rebellion

The decade ahead of my loud, possessive yell was the best one, eh?'

the poem is also about Carol Ann Duffy giving her woman character - her mother, in this case - a voice

high-heeled red shoes, relics, / and now your ghost'

to the narrator, her mother's glamour is precious, but "ghost" highlights how it's in the past and won't return

wrong pavement.'

Contrasts with "the right walk home" in line 8, suggesting she's made the wrong choice in life.

I wanted the bold girl'

bold' has connotations of adventurousness and bravery; this line suggests that Duffy was always attracted the image of the rebellious female spirit

you sparkle and waltz and laugh'

polysyndetic list (repetition of 'and') emphasises how dynamic, bright and full of life her mother was 'before you were mine'; also illustrates the lightheartedness of the female spirit