12 Questions
What was the speaker's age when they met the old woman?
Not more than three
What is the season described in the poem?
Summer
What is the old woman doing when the speaker first sees her?
Humming under a tree
What did the old woman offer the speaker for tea?
Bilberries and cream
What is the speaker's attitude towards the memory of the old woman?
Positive and nostalgic
What is the significance of the memory of the old woman to the speaker?
It is a treasured memory from their past
What is the tone of the speaker's recollection of the old woman?
Nostalgic
What is the significance of the 'long dusty road' in the poem?
It serves as a backdrop for the speaker's memory
How does the old woman's character contribute to the poem's theme?
She serves as a symbol of comfort and security
What is the effect of the poem's use of sensory details?
It evokes a sense of nostalgia in the reader
How does the poem's structure contribute to its meaning?
It mirrors the speaker's stream-of-consciousness
What is the significance of the speaker's statement 'It won't mean much to you. It does to me.'?
It serves as a commentary on the subjective nature of memory
Study Notes
Childhood Memory
- The narrator recalls a vivid childhood memory from a long time ago.
- The memory takes place on a dusty road in summer, with a mountain and an old house in the background.
The Old Woman
- The narrator remembers an old woman sitting under a tree, wearing a red shawl and holding a grey cat on her knee.
- The old woman seemed ancient to the narrator, but they were likely around three years old at the time.
The Encounter
- The old woman looked over the fence and seemed to understand the narrator's feelings as a three-year-old.
- She invited the narrator to have bilberries and cream for tea, which was a unique and pleasant experience.
The Berries and Cream
- The old woman filled a saucer with berries and cream, which the narrator had never seen or tasted before and has not seen since.
- The memory of the taste and smell of the berries and cream remains vivid in the narrator's mind.
The Setting
- The memory takes place under a tree, with the old woman humming and the cat purring, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
- The narrator also remembers the feeling of the sun on their skin and the smell of everything around them.
Reflection
- The memory is significant to the narrator, but may not be meaningful to others.
- The narrator grew up, but the memory has stayed with them.
Childhood Memory
- The narrator recalls a vivid childhood memory from a long time ago.
- The memory takes place on a dusty road in summer, with a mountain and an old house in the background.
The Old Woman
- The narrator remembers an old woman sitting under a tree, wearing a red shawl and holding a grey cat on her knee.
- The old woman seemed ancient to the narrator, but they were likely around three years old at the time.
The Encounter
- The old woman looked over the fence and seemed to understand the narrator's feelings as a three-year-old.
- She invited the narrator to have bilberries and cream for tea, which was a unique and pleasant experience.
The Berries and Cream
- The old woman filled a saucer with berries and cream, which the narrator had never seen or tasted before and has not seen since.
- The memory of the taste and smell of the berries and cream remains vivid in the narrator's mind.
The Setting
- The memory takes place under a tree, with the old woman humming and the cat purring, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
- The narrator also remembers the feeling of the sun on their skin and the smell of everything around them.
Reflection
- The memory is significant to the narrator, but may not be meaningful to others.
- The narrator grew up, but the memory has stayed with them.
A nostalgic poem about a childhood memory of a dusty road, an old house, and an old woman with a grey cat. The poem explores the speaker's early memories.
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