Answers: My Mother's coat - Ta'i George
1. The author means that the strength of the threads was a surprise because they appeared to be slender
2. Three of the following ideas are required:
3i. In stanza four, the author recalls how in her youth she became embarrassed by her mother's coat; it's "uncool design". She "did not want to be marked" as different so she abandoned it. However, in the final stanza she tries the coat on, showing that her attitude towards it, and more importantly, her attitude towards her mother, has softened. She acknowledges the effect on her mother has had on her when she says "It's because of her I can sew my own".
3ii. The authors change in attitude in the final stanza gives the poem, as a whole, a satisfying end as well as a feeling of completeness. The first part of the poem shows the young author's fascination and reverence to the coat. The final stanza represents a partial reversion to these feelings where she has grown to respect her mother and is grateful to her, but at the same time, does not want to be exactly like her.
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2. Three of the following ideas are required:
- "The colors / shouting for attention / and space" shows the mother is bold and is not afraid to stand out, because she is wearing such an attention grabbing coat;
- "My mother always wore her coat with pride" suggests that the author's mother is a confident woman;
- "Unfazed / by its highlighter effect / Marking her out" shows that she was proud of her Cook Island heritage and traditions as well as unafraid to be different by standing out amongst Pakeha;
- "Marking her out / in a Papaa crowd" shows that she is different from most of the people around her;
- "Blending beautifully / at every putuputuanga" suggests that she blends in easily among the other Cook Island women and their coats - she feels comfortable blending between the two cultures as she can wear it at a Pakeha gathering where she stands out, but also at Pacifika gatherings where she blends in;
- "The colors loud shouting for attention and space" suggests that she is an extrovert and likes being the centre of attention;
- "The colors loud shouting for attention and space" suggests that she is an assertive woman because by wearing her distinctive coat she is declaring her right to be there.
3i. In stanza four, the author recalls how in her youth she became embarrassed by her mother's coat; it's "uncool design". She "did not want to be marked" as different so she abandoned it. However, in the final stanza she tries the coat on, showing that her attitude towards it, and more importantly, her attitude towards her mother, has softened. She acknowledges the effect on her mother has had on her when she says "It's because of her I can sew my own".
3ii. The authors change in attitude in the final stanza gives the poem, as a whole, a satisfying end as well as a feeling of completeness. The first part of the poem shows the young author's fascination and reverence to the coat. The final stanza represents a partial reversion to these feelings where she has grown to respect her mother and is grateful to her, but at the same time, does not want to be exactly like her.
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