the tube connecting a baby to its mother in the womb, supplying nutrients and oxygen

expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

British English CC

Developing interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’ with Simon Armitage

English

Understanding 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers

Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers

Understanding the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy

Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy

Understanding the poem 'When We Two Parted' by Lord Byron

Analysing the poem  ‘When We Two Parted’ by Lord Byron

Identifying how poets convey heartbreak in natural settings

Analysing how poets convey heartbreak in natural settings

Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Analysing the poem 'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Understanding the poem ‘Love’s Philosophy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Analysing the poem 'Love's Philosophy' by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Understanding the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

Analysing the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

Identifying how poets reflect desire in natural settings

Analysing how poets reflect desire in natural settings

Understanding the poem ‘Eden Rock’ by Charles Causley

Analysing the poem 'Eden Rock' by Charles Causley

Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse

Analysing the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse

Understanding the poem 'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysing the poem 'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Identifying how poets reminisce and remember loved ones

Analysing how poets reminisce and remember loved ones

Understanding the poem ‘Mother, any distance’ by Simon Armitage

Analysing the poem 'Mother, any distance' by Simon Armitage

Understanding the poem ‘Walking Away’ by Cecil Day-Lewis

Analysing the poem ‘Walking Away’ by Cecil Day-Lewis

Understanding the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney

Analysing the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney

Identifying how poets present relationships that change over time

Analysing how poets present relationships that change over time

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.

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Love and Relationships' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in four groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.

Poetry anthology: first study

Is the statement true or false? For 'Mother, any distance', Armitage was inspired by a party game played with matches, where each person has the time it takes for a match to burn to tell their story.

The lasting impact of childhood memories.

The emotional impact of leaving home and becoming independent.

Which statement best describes what the poem ‘Mother, any distance’ represents?

He now understands the theme of growing up more clearly.

He no longer feels the same emotional uncertainty about growing up.

He has lost interest in the theme of independence.

He feels more confident and certain about who he has become.

Why does Armitage say he would not write the poem 'Mother, any distance' now?

He feels it has become more meaningful over time.

He feels emotionally connected to it, recalling his initial experience.

How does Armitage describe his feelings towards the poem ‘Mother, any distance’?

Is the statement true or false? Armitage states that the the words "Kite" and "anchor" can be interpreted solely as the control of his mother and the freedom he craved.

It represents the speaker’s desire to explore distant places.

It reflects the cultural influence of the space age during the time of writing.

It illustrates the speaker's wish to break free from their mother’s control.

It symbolises the speaker’s longing for a life beyond Earth.

What does Armitage say is significant about the “space imagery” in the poem 'Mother, any distance'?

a child's relationship with their father as they grow up.

the physical and emotional distance between a mother and her child.

the challenges of living in a small, confined space with a parent.

a mother's struggle to let go of her child during their teenage years.

the speaker views their mother as an obstacle to achieving independence

the speaker worries that their mother views them as a burden

the speaker views their mother as stubborn and immovable

the speaker wishes they could be more principled in their beliefs

The image of the anchor in 'Mother, any distance' could symbolise how...

It refers to the child’s potential for success or failure.

It describes the mother’s emotional state.

It shows the physical movement of the child.

It refers to the child’s decision to leave home.

What statement best describes the significance of the words “fall" and fly”?

Is the statement true or false? The poem uses the metaphor of measuring to explore the child’s increasing independence.

Which word completes this quotation from the poem 'Mother, any distance'? "I {{}} "

Which poetic technique is used in the line describing a "hatch" and a "sky" that is "endless"  in 'Mother, Any Distance'?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Developing interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’ with Simon Armitage

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.