Meehan - The Pattern

Question 1

Meehan’s fraught relationship with her mother is evident

Answer 1

“the sting of her hand/ across my face in one of our wars”

Question 2

Meehan holds some resentment against her mother

Answer 2

“I’ve never gone back to visit her grave”

Question 3

Meehan’s mother is the victim and perpetrator of domestic violence

Answer 3

“he dragged me by the hair” “tongues of flame in her dark eyes”

Question 4

Meehan’s mother’s opportunities were oppressed by society

Answer 4

She was “already lost”

Question 5

Colloquial terms

Answer 5

“your Da” “plenty of wear in it yet”

Question 6

Sibilant line about poverty

Answer 6

“to me it spelt poverty/ the stigma of the second hand”

Question 7

Simile describing Meehan’s ambitious dreams

Answer 7

“Swam like a kite” “flew like a fish”