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Lesson 27 of 33
  • Year 10
  • AQA

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

I can use Simon Armitage’s comments to develop my interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’.

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Lesson 27 of 33
New
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  • Year 10
  • AQA

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

I can use Simon Armitage’s comments to develop my interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Armitage says personal writing must convey a specific emotion.
  2. He describes the poem as a "rite of passage" that explores the uncertainty of life transitions.
  3. Armitage identifies "Kite. Anchor" as the most significant part, highlighting its effective ambiguity.
  4. Armitage states that the "space imagery" is "generational", placing the poem in a particular time period.
  5. Armitage's ideas can help develop interpretations of the poem.

Keywords

  • Umbilical cord - the tube connecting a baby to its mother in the womb, supplying nutrients and oxygen

  • Disclose - to reveal or make information known

  • Sentimental - expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

  • Economy - careful use of resources to avoid waste

Common misconception

A poet will always make choices with a clear intention or meaning.

Armitage reveals that poetic choices can be deliberately ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations and personal responses.


To help you plan your year 10 English lesson on: Developing interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’ with Simon Armitage, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider using discussion as a way to respond to the videos.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson. The poem is also available in the additional materials.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Mother, Any Distance' is about...

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

Q2.
The image of the anchor in 'Mother, any distance' could symbolise how...

Correct answer: 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

Q3.
What statement best describes the significance of the words “fall" and fly”?

Correct answer: 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.

Q4.
Is the statement true or false? The poem uses the metaphor of measuring to explore the child’s increasing independence.

Correct Answer: true, t, T, True

Q5.
Which word completes this quotation from the poem 'Mother, any distance'? "I "

meander
Correct answer: space-walk
fly free
slowly walk

Q6.
Which poetic technique is used in the line describing a "hatch" and a "sky" that is "endless" in 'Mother, Any Distance'?

Correct answer: metaphor
alliteration
personification
symbolism

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
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.

Correct Answer: true, t, T, True

Q2.
Which statement best describes what the poem ‘Mother, any distance’ represents?

The lasting impact of childhood memories.
The comfort found in family routines.
Correct answer: The emotional impact of leaving home and becoming independent.

Q3.
Why does Armitage say he would not write the poem 'Mother, any distance' now?

He now understands the theme of growing up more clearly.
Correct answer: He no longer feels the same emotional uncertainty about growing up.
He has lost interest in the theme of independence.
Correct answer: He feels more confident and certain about who he has become.

Q4.
How does Armitage describe his feelings towards the poem ‘Mother, any distance’?

He feels it has become more meaningful over time.
Correct answer: He has become "numb" to it.
He feels emotionally connected to it, recalling his initial experience.
He enjoys its "over-familiarity".

Q5.
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.

Correct Answer: false, f, F, False

Q6.
What does Armitage say is significant about the “space imagery” in the poem 'Mother, any distance'?

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

Additional material

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