Effects

Question 1

Summarise ‘Effects’

Answer 1

• The poem explores the poet’s memories of his mother as, after she has died, he holds her hand and waits to receive her belongings. There is a deep sense of regret throughout the poem, with Jenkins wishing he had done more to connect with his mother while she was alive.

Question 2

How does ‘Effects’ present emotional responses to birth and death.

Answer 2

• Regretful - he feels as though he wasted the time that she was alive to establish a relationship
• Now that she is gone, her death causes him to confront his feelings
• Her death serves as a reminder of his failure
• He is gifted a ‘little bag’ representative of there absence of a relationship?