What are the three stages described by Shirley Toulson in the poem ‘A Photograph’? Explain.
Answers
The poem describes three stages in the passage of time. In the first stage, the photograph shows the poet's mother standing at the beach enjoying her holiday with her two girl cousins. She was around 12 years old at that time. The second stage takes us twenty or thirty years later.
Answer:
The central concept in Shirley Toulson's photography is change or mutability. A photograph captures the past and the passage of time. The poet recalls a time in the recent past through the photograph. The speaker recalls a time when her mother was no longer alive.
Explanation:
The poem depicts three stages of time passing.
In the first stage, the photograph depicts the poet's mother standing on the beach with her two female cousins, enjoying her vacation. At the time, she was about 12 years old. The second stage takes us forward twenty or thirty years. The mother would scoff at how she and her cousins were dressed for the beach vacation. In the third stage, the poet remembers her late mother with sadness. The photograph rekindles the poet's nostalgia.
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