There are fifteen poems in the GCSE Love and Relationships anthology.

For your exam, you will be given one poem in full, printed on the page, and you will be asked to compare this poem to another from the anthology.

All of the GCSE English Literature course is closed-book, meaning that you will need to learn at least three lines from each poem.

It is possible to get top marks for this question by making sure that you know the following:

• What the poem is about

• What the poem means

• The methods the poet uses to convey their message

• The links between the ideas of other poems in the anthology

Synopsis

This section includes:

• A general overview of the poem

• A detailed look at the poem line-by-line

• Analysis of the poem, giving Andrew Waterhouse’s intention and message

A General Overview of the Poem

The poem is a reflective and intimate poem in which the speaker metaphorically compares the act of climbing a mountain to exploring the physical features and character of his grandfather. The poem suggests a child's perspective, filled with curiosity and admiration, as the speaker "climbs" his grandfather, observing his rugged features, scars, and the details that reveal his strength and wisdom.

Line-by-Line

I decide to do it free, without a rope or net.

The first line of the poem presents the speaker’s choice: they will act without any support.

The speaker is focused, attempting a task despite there being a risk.

First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked;

an easy scramble onto his trousers,

pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip.

The speaker starts their climb at the shoes of their grandfather, moving slowly upwards.

We are in the perspective of a child.

The discourse marker ‘First’ suggests that this will take some time to finish.

The use of ‘brogues’ ‘dusty’ ‘cracked’ implies that that the Grandfather’s shoes are old – reflective of his age and wisdom.

By the overhanging shirt I change

direction, traverse along his belt

to an earth-stained hand. The nails

We move into the grandfather’s lap.

The imagery of climbing emerges – through the word ‘traverse’ – a word that implies how difficult this process is.

There is a hint that the grandfather conducted manual labour, through ‘earth-stained hand’.

are splintered and give good purchase,

the skin of his finger is smooth and thick

like warm ice. On his arm I discover

The focus shifts to the hands of the grandfather – zooming into detail.

Waterhouse uses an oxymoron – ‘warm ice’ – to suggest both comfort as well as damage.

the glassy ridge of a scar, place my feet

gently in the old stitches and move on.

We continue to climb the grandfather, as the damage on his body starts to emerge more clearly.

The poet uses textural imagery, words like ‘glassy’ and ‘gently’, to suggest a weather pain upon the grandfather.

At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while

in the shade, not looking down,

for climbing has its dangers, then pull

The climb continues to be a challenge – it is possible that he will fall.

The use of the word ‘firm’ implies solidity and strength, qualities that bring comfort.

The speaker is able to ‘rest’ implying that they feel safe.

There is an overriding sense of awe in the speaker – they value and appreciate the power of their grandfather.

myself up the loose skin of his neck

to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth.

The speaker nears the top of the grandfather, which brings a feeling of comfort and relief.

We see the grandfather is ‘smiling’ – implying an intimacy and connection between the speaker and the grandfather.

Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek,

to stare into his brown eyes, watch a pupil

slowly open and close. Then up over

the forehead, the wrinkles well-spaced

The climb continues, fresh with energy from his grandfather’s smile.

The face is described in detail – we appreciate the size.

The use of ‘wrinkles well-spaced’ creates an alliterative sound, emphasising the beauty of the grandfather.

and easy, to his thick hair (soft and white

at this altitude), reaching for the summit,

where gasping for breath I can only lie

watching clouds and birds circle,

The speaker reaches the top of his climb, which has been difficult – as seen through words like ‘gasping’.

The mountain-climbing imagery implies a sense of achievement which the child feels.

feeling his heat, knowing

the slow pulse of his good heart.

The speaker describes feeling the warmth and heartbeat of his grandfather.

The grandfather is clearly a very important part of the child’s life.

The focus on ‘heart’ implies tender emotional connection.

Writer’s Methods

This section aims to support your revision by providing you with concrete and clear examples of methods that Andrew Waterhouse uses. 

Remember: methods support meaning, not the other way round. You will gain more marks focusing your essays on the big ideas of the poems and then supporting these ideas with the methods that the writer uses.

Form

Andrew Waterhouse’s poem offers a unique perspective on familial love. It recounts a memory of a grandfather through the eyes of a child. Written in the present tense, the poem creates a sense of emotional immediacy while also evoking a feeling of nostalgic reflection.

The poem is written from a first-person perspective to capture a child’s experience as they metaphorically climb their grandfather’s body. The speaker’s child-like innocence and curiosity are evident in phrases like “an easy scramble onto his trousers,” highlighting the simplicity of the moment, which feels significant as the child treats this exploration like an adventure. The use of present-tense verbs, such as “I discover” and “I watch,” reflects the child’s immediate observations and learning process as he closely studies his grandfather. This sense of immediacy creates a sentimental tone, illustrating how the child views the challenges of growing up while finding guidance and comfort in his grandfather’s presence.

Structure

Waterhouse’s poem uses the extended metaphor of mountaineering to represent a child’s journey as he climbs his grandfather. The careful, step-by-step process reflects the child’s attempt to reach the towering, almost awe-inspiring presence of his grandfather. Although the climb is depicted as challenging, the tone remains sentimental and intimate, emphasising the strong bonds within a close family relationship.

Structurally, the poem is presented as a single, solid stanza, symbolizing the grandfather’s sturdy, mountain-like presence. The irregular line lengths reflect the unpredictability of the child’s journey, suggesting both the physical and emotional complexities of exploring a loved one’s character. The poem begins with the child acknowledging the risk and excitement of his adventure: “I decide to do it free, without a rope or net,” highlighting both bravery and vulnerability. The distance between the child and his grandfather is metaphorical as well as physical, with the speaker feeling the strain of the journey, “gasping for breath” at the “high altitude” of the summit.

Waterhouse’s use of enjambment adds a natural, flowing quality to the poem, creating a personal, conversational tone: “At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while/in the shade.” Despite the challenges of the climb, the relationship is portrayed as deeply comforting, with the child feeling reassured and supported by his grandfather’s steady presence.

Language

Waterhouse employs an extended metaphor of mountaineering to express the sense of awe a child feels when observing and climbing his grandfather’s vast, towering figure. However, rather than portraying the grandfather as powerful or imposing, Waterhouse presents him as gentle, humble, and pure. Through the child’s eyes, the grandfather appears almost giant-like, with the language emphasising the scale of the climb: “By the overhanging shirt I change/direction, traverse along his belt.” This metaphor transforms the grandfather into a somewhat mythical figure, highlighting the child’s admiration and wonder.

Natural imagery reinforces the grandfather’s purity and simplicity. The poet intertwines descriptions of the grandfather with the natural world, as seen in lines like “his thick hair (soft and white/at this altitude), reaching for the summit,” and the image of the child lying at the top, “watching clouds and birds circle.” These images suggest a serene, almost ethereal quality, as if the grandfather is part of the landscape itself.

Waterhouse effectively conveys the child’s deep respect and admiration by depicting the grandfather as so tall he seems to touch the sky. When the child reaches the “summit,” symbolizing the peak of his journey and connection, his grandfather’s head is quite literally “in the clouds,” reinforcing the idea that, in the child’s eyes, he is larger than life.

Context

At MyEdSpace, we use this analogy to discuss context – ketchup, salt and chips.

If you ordered a portion of chips, and asked for salt, you wouldn’t then dump the salt into the corner of your chips and start dipping each individual chip into the salt.

When you put salt on your chips, you sprinkle it over, sparingly, so as to give a good coverage of salt across the chips as a whole. Context is just like salt on chips.

Context is not ketchup – because it would be appropriate to squeeze ketchup into the corner of your plate and dip each chip in (and in fact, that is advised).

So when you’re including contextual information in your essays, sprinkle it across the essay, just like you sprinkle salt on your chips.

Let’s link the context to the key ideas and themes of the poem.

Family Connections

Andrew Waterhouse, born in 1958, was a British poet and musician, with a strong passion for geography and environmentalism.

The theme of mountaineering in this poem is characteristic of his work, which frequently reflects his deep connection to the natural world. Waterhouse’s poetry often explores nature while expressing concerns about its role and preservation in the modern world.

However, in this poem, he shifts focus to a personal childhood memory, using the imagery of a long, successful mountain climb to capture a child’s sense of awe and admiration for his grandfather.

Distance

This poem is part of Andrew Waterhouse’s first full-length collection, IN, which explores themes such as family relationships and the natural world.

In this poem, the emotional and physical distance between a child and his grandfather is depicted as vast. Waterhouse employs an extended metaphor, comparing the child’s climb to scaling a towering mountain, using descriptions of size and height to emphasize the grandfather’s imposing yet comforting presence.

The child’s dependence on his grandfather is conveyed through simple, vivid descriptions. The speaker climbs up “old brogues,” pulls himself onto “trousers,” and navigates his way using his grandfather’s belt for support. These details reflect both the literal act of climbing and the deeper emotional reliance a child has on a guiding figure.

Growing up in the north of England, Waterhouse often infused his poetry with the language and imagery of the region. In this poem, he reflects on the challenging journey of growing up in the figurative “shade” of a grandfather’s great stature. The child rests in this “shade,” a metaphor that evokes the comfort, stability, and protection provided by a towering tree, symbolizing the grandfather’s enduring strength and nurturing presence.

Comparison

You are required to write an essay in your exam that is a comparison of the ideas and themes explored in two poems from the Love and Relationships anthology. Therefore, it is very important to revise the poems in pairs and to enter the exam with an idea of what poem you will choose to compare once you know what the named poem is.

‘Climbing My Grandfather’ and ‘Mother, Any Distance’

Both Andrew Waterhouse’s poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' and Simon Armitage’s 'Mother, Any Distance' present speakers who focus on a familial relationship – they describe what seem to be insignificant events, but in fact these moments have deep impact. Waterhouse focuses on the relationship between child and grandfather, whereas Armitage looks at the relationship between mother and son.

Similarities:

Both speakers describe the relationship as reassuring and steadying, presenting the close family connection.

Evidence and Analysis

Waterhouse conveys the grandfather’s reassuring presence through the child’s perspective. The speaker’s calm, reflective tone is enhanced by the use of enjambment: “Refreshed, I cross the screed cheek,//to stare into his brown eyes.” Similarly, Armitage portrays the mother as a comforting figure, using enjambment to create a sentimental, steady tone in the speaker’s voice.

In Climbing My Grandfather, the speaker finds comfort in the close bond with his grandfather, expressed through vivid imagery. Despite the challenging climb, the grandfather offers moments of respite: “I rest for a while//in the shade.” His physical presence provides both literal and emotional support: “The nails//are splintered and give good purchase” and “place my feet gently in the old stitches and move on.”

In comparison, Armitage uses metaphor to describe the mother as an “anchor”, symbolizing stability and grounding. Her role is further emphasized through the verbs “reporting” and “recording,” suggesting her experience, authority, and protective influence. The speaker acknowledges this dependence, implying that without her, he may “fall,” highlighting her vital role in his life.

Differences:

Andrew Waterhouse’s Climbing My Grandfather explores a child’s dependence on their grandfather, while Simon Armitage’s Mother, Any Distance reflects the conflicting emotions of an adult speaker grappling with the desire for independence.

In Climbing My Grandfather, the speaker acknowledges his reliance on his grandfather as he attempts to ascend his towering figure. Waterhouse conveys this through a semantic field of mountaineering, with the child having to “traverse along his belt” and “pull myself up the loose skin of his neck.” The child climbs “gently” using the “stitches” in his grandfather’s clothing for support, symbolizing both physical dependence and emotional closeness.

Conversely, in Mother, Any Distance, the speaker recognises the risks of independence but views it as a pathway to freedom. Armitage uses symbolic imagery, such as the metaphor of a kite soaring in “an endless sky,” to represent the speaker’s yearning for autonomy. However, the strong maternal bond is portrayed as both supportive and restrictive, with the mother’s fingertips that “still pinch,” suggesting the tension between holding on and letting go. The speaker acknowledges that “something has to give,” highlighting the inevitable shift in their relationship.

While Climbing My Grandfather ends with a moment of connection, as the child rests close to his grandfather’s chest, listening to the “slow pulse of his good heart,” Mother, Any Distance concludes with a pivotal decision: “to fall or fly.” The isolation of this final line underscores the speaker’s choice to embrace independence, symbolising both the fear and excitement that come with stepping away from the family bond.