What does the word “space,” indicate at the end of line one?
That there is a distance between her and the young woman
That it is a very large room
That the mother gives the young woman space because she respects her
"Then she put me in my place." Explain the double meaning here.
The mother shows the young woman to the wrong room. It is the mother's room.
The mother shows the young woman to the son's room. This is where the mother intends her to stay
The mother shows the young woman to the box room. She does this to show her that she is going to be temporary and unimportant in her son's life
"He brings a Friend." Why is the word "Friend" capitalised?
To show how unimportant the son thinks the young woman is
To show how important the son thinks the young woman is
To show how unimportant the mother thinks the young woman is
What does the word "synthetic" suggest the young woman’s opinion of her relationship is?
Beautifully constructed
Superficial
A partnership of equals
"Brush off time with dust." What technique is this and what does it mean?
Simile. That things can be magicked back to how they used to be
Alliteration. To emphasise just how old the son must be
Metaphor. To suggest that things can be returned to how they were as easily as removing dust
Why is the young woman unable to sleep?
She is not used to sleeping in a single bed
She is worried that her relationship may not last
She is excited about seeing her boyfriend
Why is the son's grin described as "gilt edged"?
The grin is in photographs which are held by gold frames
He is basically a good person
The smile is false and hides the son’s real personality
What does Lochhead mean by "a selection / Of plots grown thin"?
That the boyfriend has had a lot of previous girlfriends
That the son’s life has gone downhill in recent years
That the relationship between the mother and the son is not as strong as it used to be
What does the son now have "no interest" in?
Being a loving boyfriend
Moving back in with his mother
Fathering a child with the young woman
In what way is the son's past "a premonition"?
With such a close bond with his mother he is sure to relate well to women
His past girlfriends suggest he is ready to settle down now
Because he has discarded so many people and things in his past