Mother to son memorandum 6 May 2024 (70 marks)

Question 1
1.1 It is a free verse poem.
1.2 Typical characteristics of such a poem are as follows; no special structure, no
regular rhymes or rhythm, line lengths can all be different and often has unusual
punctuation or no punctuation at all.
1.3 “crystal stair” is figurative image. It suggests that the mother has been going
through difficulties or hardships al l the time in her life.
1.4 “-ll” sound is a poetic device called alliteration. Alliteration is when the nearby
words have consonants that sound the same. For example the clumsy cow.
It will have an effect of heightened emotion or enhance an image in the poem.
1.5 The narrative of this poem does not end in the final lines. The reason is that
lines 17 to 20, “don’t you fall now-, For I’ se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin are
good examples of continuity. The mother and son are continuing with their lives /
the son still has his own journey to go through and the reader wants to see his
journey.
1.6 The message is that people should persevere and endure in their life time
regardless of the hardships and obstacles that they will be facing in their lives. In
this poem, “tacks and splinters” symbolizes pain and injury. It also emphasizes
the dignity and determination of a person when facing problems in life, for
instance the ragged staircase. One must not give up the struggle in life. The
spirit of persistence and resilience must continue in one’s life. The mother was
encouraging her son to not give up. In my view, a possible setting is a casual
environment in a house. It is appropriate because there are staircases in a
house setup, for instance, “And place with no carper on the floor-” and “And life
for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Meaning that the mother was going through
hard and difficult times and was encouraging her son to soldier on with his life.
The lesson that the mother is teaching her son is that life is not a bed of roses
but it is a journey. The son must travel it. It is a challenge, and the son must
face it. It is also a game, and the son must play it. Finally, it describes the
difficulties that Black people face in a racist society, alluding to the many
obstacles and dangers that racism throws in their way. Whites are not
experiencing difficulties.

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Question 2
2.1 Informal language is language that is not used in ceremonial and polite
occasions but rather in everyday situations with friends, family members and people
you know well. It is more commonly used in situations that are more relaxed. It is
more casual and spontaneous. For instance, in Mother to Son, it is the mother and
son having a conversation. Informal register is the use of contractions. It is also
acceptable to use contractions in informal writing. Informal language is also
known as colloquial language. It is acceptable in poems and stories because it is
easy to read it.
This poem contains words that are not grammatically correct or are informal.
The following are examples of informal words or phrases from the poem, ain’t-has
not; I’se-I have; a-climin-climbing; reachin/land in’/turnin/goin-all missing a “g” at the
end; -set down-sit down; ‘cause- because; kinder-kin of; I’ll- I will; don’t-do not.
Contraction makes writing more much personal and friendly. People use
contractions all the time in their everyday speech and it is important that they
replicate that in their writing.
Informal language makes an easy flow and faster speech. It enhances solidarity
and lessens social distance through its morphology and lexicology. It helps one
to express their identity. The poem benefits more readers because general
speaking people enjoy being informal most of their time. This means that more
people will be informed and gain knowledge.

2.2 The mood of the poem relates more to how the poem makes its readers feel. For
example, certain images created by the words of a poem can make readers of
that particular poem feel sad or happy, angry or peaceful. However, the above
poem suggests that the speaker has not had an easy life. The mood of the poem
is one of optimism in the face of hardship and sadness. For instance, the poem
starts off, it seems on a note of resignation; “Well son, I’II tell you: Life for me
ain’t been no crystal stair.” Imagery is a literary device in which poets use
images which appeal to our five senses which are sight, sound, taste, touch and
smell. In the poem Mother to Son, most of the images appeal to our sight as we
feel the roughness of the stairs, the darkness in the corner, torn boards which
suggest hardships of life. Both the mother and the son were experiencing
hardships in their lives. The imagery of touch has been utilized which makes me
feel the pain felt by splinters and tacks. Imagery enhances the effect of the
miseries of mother’s life and the poet successfully transports us to his world and
conveys his message. The three specific examples which influences the mood

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 and feeling of the poem overall are as follows; “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters,
and boards torn up.” A tack is a small, sharp broad-headed nail. In a household
setup tacks held the remaining rags of carpet to the floor. Splinter is a small,
thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or similar material broken off from a larger
piece. This meant that it was even dangerous to walk in the house because of
the sharp objects on the floor. Boards torn up means broken, obstacles,
unfinished this indicates the mother and the son were living in a more dangerous
situation. In short, tacks and splinters are not life threatening but they do hurt.
These generate the feeling of hurt, pain, racism and poverty.

Question 3 [101]
A summary of Mother to Son Poem.
“Mother to Son” is a dramatic monologue. The poem features a working-class Black
woman who addresses her son. She reflects on the difficult circumstances of Black life
in racist America, but she is resolute in her commitment to persevere.
The poem’s speaker, a mother, addresses her son in a lecture about perseverance
and hope. The mother describes her difficult life and the painful obstacles she has
faced, turning her struggles into a lesson of inspiration and encouragement for her
son. Utilising the metaphor of a staircase, the poem touches on themes such as racial
inequality, poverty, and trauma. The speaker represents the Black American mother,
resilient and strong yet often underestimated and overlooked, as she raises the next
generation of Black men in an oppressive society that will marginalize and traumatize
them. As a mother does for her child, she insists that with ruthless determination and
tireless work, there is still hope.
It is also the demonstration of the love a mother has for her son. Behind this love, the
poet emphasises the idea of never giving up in any situation. The speaker in this poem
is a mother who gives advice to her beloved son, who may also be seen to represent
the younger generation.
The mood of a poem is the emotion evoked in the reader by the poem itself. Mood is
often confused with tone, which is the speaker's attitude toward the subject. Mood is
created by diction, imagery, and sound devices.

The tone of the poem “Mother to Son” is one of sternness and hope. A mother explains
to her son that life will bring hardships and obstacles that he must face and overcome.
She commands him to be resilient but adopts a nurturing tone.

Perhaps the most central theme in “Mother to Son” relates to the value of perseverance.
The speaker spends the first two-thirds of the poem discussing the numerous
challenges she's faced in her life and emphasising the persistence she's demonstrated
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despite those challenges. It is uses the metaphor of a staircase to convey a message
of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.