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Before You Were Mine Questions

This poem is told from the perspective of a daughter (the poet) talking to her mother. The daughter describes memories her mother shared with her about before the daughter was even born. The daughter admires how glamorous the mother used to be and tries to be the same.

Lines 1-2) The poet paints an image of her mother and friends on a street corner. How long will it be until the poet is born?
Lines 3-4) What do you think her mother and friends are doing here?
Line 5) Which famous person is the poet comparing her mother to in this line? Why?
Line 6) What does the first sentence remind the reader of in this line?
Lines 6-9) How does the mother like to spend her time before the poet is born? Does she mind being the centre of attention? Which quotation tells you the answer?
Lines 10-11) A ‘hiding’ is a beating. Why does the mother’s ‘Ma’ give her a ‘hiding’? Would that stop the mother going out and dancing?
Lines 12-13) The poet describes her own ‘loud, possessive yell’. How old do you think the poet was when she made this ‘loud, possessive yell’?
Line 14) What does the poet do when she is very young when playing with her mother’s clothes? But why call them ‘relics’?
Line 15) George Square is a part of Glasgow where the mother lived.
Line 16) How ‘clear’ is ‘scent’? How clearly does she see the image of her mother? What technique is this?
Line 17) What kind of things was the mother doing when she was young and growing up?
Line 18) Now the poet has been born and she is describing an early memory of her and her mother. What do they do together? Is this a fond memory?
Line 19) Are they literally ‘stamping stars’ from the pavement? What technique is this? Is it a positive image? Are they enjoying themselves?
Line 20) Portobello is another area of Glasgow. Which word would you pick out to suggest the mother was cheeky and mischievous?
Lines 21-22) What was life like for the mother before the poet was born? Which words would you pick out to show this? How would you show it?