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Week 2
Grandfather
1. I feel sad for the poet as I think he is quite attached to his grandfather and he was quite badly affected by his grandfather's death. The words "I stood, vaguely baseless, a tree with torn roots" show that the poet felt very much alone and with no support as "a tree with no roots" implies. Thus, I think he was very close to his grandfather and was very sad that they were not allowed to see the grandfather during his last days. I also feel that the grandfather was treated very badly during his last days. He was not kept in a hospital and was not looked after by professional nurses. Instead, he was brought home and separated from the rest of the family, away from the laughter and joy of the children.
2. Phrases:
"stood, vaguely baseless"
"a tree with torn roots"
"your pallor and stench" (surprise and anger at the way he was treated during his final days)
"they would not keep the dying" (surprise at the way the hospital discarded the very ill)