Summary “A Photograph”:

“A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson captures the essence of a moment frozen in time through an old photograph. It depicts the poet’s mother and her cousins on a beach, captured before the poet’s birth. The image holds memories of a bygone era, with the sea as a constant backdrop.

As time passes, the poet’s mother ages and the photograph becomes a poignant relic of the past. It reflects on the transience of life and the power of photography to preserve memories. The poem evokes a sense of loss and nostalgia, with the final lines emphasising the profound silence left by departed loved ones. 

‘A Photograph’ reflects on the passage of time, the transience of life, and the power of a single photograph to preserve memories and emotions across generations.

Central Idea: A Photograph by Shirley Toulson:

“A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson explores the passage of time and the power of memory through a single image. The poem reflects on a photograph capturing a moment from the poet’s mother’s past, depicting her with her cousins on the beach. As time progresses, the poet’s mother ages and the photograph becomes a poignant reminder of a fleeting moment.

The central idea revolves around the transience of life, the nostalgia inherent in memories preserved through photography, and the profound silence left by the passage of time and the loss of loved ones. Through the imagery of the sea and the photograph, Toulson conveys the enduring impact of memories and the inevitable cycle of life and death.

Explanation “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson:

Analysis “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson:

The tone of the poem is reflective and nostalgic. The poet looks back on the photograph and the memories it represents with a sense of wistfulness. There is a subdued sadness and acceptance of the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. The tone also carries a touch of reverence for the memory of the poet’s mother and the enduring power of the photograph to evoke emotions.

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with varying line lengths. The lack of a traditional rhyme scheme or meter allows the poet to convey a natural and conversational tone, which suits the reflective nature of the poem. The absence of a strict structure contributes to the poem’s sense of openness and contemplation.

The poem ‘A Photograph’ can be categorised as a lyric poem. It is a brief, emotionally charged work expressing the poet’s feelings and reflections. The poem revolves around the poet’s memories and emotions evoked by the photograph, making it a lyrical exploration of the past and its impact on the present.

1. The Photograph: The photograph itself is a powerful symbol. It represents a frozen moment in time, a captured memory that transcends the limitations of the present. It serves as a bridge between the past and the present, a tangible reminder of people and moments that have passed away.

2. The Sea: The sea symbolises the relentless passage of time and the enduring nature of the natural world. It appears unchanged in the photograph, highlighting the transient nature of human life and experiences in contrast to the timeless sea.

A Photograph Line-by-Line Explanation:

1. “The cardboard shows me how it was”

The speaker refers to the photograph as “the cardboard,” implying an old physical print that evokes past memories.

2. “When the two girl cousins went paddling,”

The photograph captures a moment when the speaker’s two girl cousins paddled, likely in water.

3. “Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,”

In the photograph, the cousins hold one of the speaker’s mother’s hands, depicting their close bond.

4. “And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.”

The speaker’s mother was older than her girl cousins, approximately twelve years old, when the photograph was taken.

5. “All three stood still to smile through their hair”

The girls, including the speaker’s mother, smile as their hair falls around their faces.

6. “At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,”

The girls smile at the uncle who is capturing the photograph. The speaker describes her mother’s expression as “sweet.”

7. “My mother’s, that was before I was born.”

The photograph captures the mother’s expression before the speaker’s birth, suggesting a moment from the past.

8. “And the sea, which appears to have changed less,”

The sea in the photograph’s background is perceived to have changed less over time than the people in the picture.

9. “Washed their terribly transient feet.”

The sea washed the girls’ feet in the photograph, emphasising the fleeting nature of the moment and life itself.

10. “Some twenty — thirty — years later”

The speaker jumps to a later time, recalling her mother’s reaction to the photograph many years after it was taken.

11. “She’d laugh at the snapshot. “See Betty”

The mother would laugh when looking at the snapshot and would point out her cousins, Betty and Dolly, in the photograph.

12. “And Dolly,” she’d say, “and look how they”

The mother would affectionately mention her cousins’ names and comment on how they all dressed for the beach in the photograph.

13. “Dressed us for the beach.” The sea holiday”

The mother recalls the beach holiday depicted in the photograph and their fun together.

14. “Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry”

The beach holiday represents the mother’s past, while her mother’s laughter characterises the speaker’s present. The word “wry” suggests a subtle sense of irony or humour.

15. “With the laboured ease of loss.”

The mother’s and the speaker’s laughter carries a bittersweet quality, as it is intertwined with the experience of loss and the passage of time.

16. “Now she’s been dead nearly as many years”

The mother has been deceased for almost as many years as she lived in the photograph.

17. “As that girl lived. And of this circumstance”

The mother’s life span is now comparable to that of the girl in the photograph. “this circumstance” refers to the passing of time and the mother’s loss.

18. “There is nothing to say at all.”

The speaker implies that no words can adequately express the profound impact of her mother’s absence.

19. “Its silence silences.”

The poem concludes with a powerful paradox – the silence surrounding the circumstance of loss becomes an even more profound, highlighting the ineffable nature of grief and memories.

Literary Devices “A Photograph”:

Extra Questions “A Photograph”:

Q1: What does the cardboard symbolise in the poem ‘A Photograph’?

A1: The cardboard represents an old photograph, a tangible reminder of a past moment frozen in time.

Q2: Describe the scene depicted in the photograph.

A2: The photograph captures the speaker’s mother and two girl cousins paddling at the beach. The girls stand still, holding hands, and smile at the uncle with the camera.

Q3: How does the speaker describe her mother’s face in the photograph?

A3: The speaker describes her mother’s face as “sweet,” reflecting her youthful and carefree expression before the speaker was born.

Q4: What does the sea symbolise in the poem?

A4: The sea symbolises continuity and permanence. Despite the passage of time, it appears unchanged, contrasting with the transient nature of human life.

Q5: How does the mother react to the snapshot years later?

A5: Years later, the mother laughs when looking at the snapshot. She nostalgically recalls the beach holiday with her cousins, Betty and Dolly, and reflects on how they were dressed.

Q6: What does the phrase “mine is her laughter” suggest?

A6: “Mine is her laughter” suggests that the speaker’s connection to her mother is tied to the memories of her mother’s laughter and the shared experiences depicted in the photograph.

Q7: What emotion is evident in the mother’s laughter and the speaker’s perspective?

A7: Both the mother’s laughter and the speaker’s perspective are wry, indicating a sense of humour tinged with irony and a contemplative acknowledgement of the passage of time and the loss of the past.

Q8: How does the poem convey the theme of the transience of life?

A8: The poem conveys the theme of transience through the image of the sea washing the girls’ feet, representing the passing of time. The mother’s laughter and the sea holiday become memories of the past, reminding readers of the fleeting nature of life.

Q9: How does the poem address the passage of time and mortality?

A9: The poem addresses the passage of time and mortality through the realisation that the mother has been dead for nearly as many years as the girl in the photograph lived. This juxtaposition highlights life’s impermanence and mortality’s impact on memories and emotions.

Q10: What is the significance of the final line, “Its silence silences”?

A10: The final lines suggest that no words adequately express the emotions brought about by the circumstances of the mother’s passing and the memories captured in the photograph. The silence symbolises the profound impact of loss and the complexities of emotions associated with time.

Extract 1:

Q1: What does the “cardboard” refer to in the poem?

A1: The “cardboard” refers to the old photograph the speaker looks at. It shows a moment from the past when the speaker’s mother and her two cousins went paddling at the beach.

Q2: Who are the people mentioned in the photograph?

A2: The people mentioned in the photograph are the speaker’s mother and two girl cousins.

Q3: How old was the speaker’s mother in the photograph?

A3: The speaker’s mother was about twelve years old in the photograph.

Q4: What activity are the girls engaged in, as shown in the photograph?

A4: The girls paddle in the sea, holding one of the speaker’s mother’s hands.

Q5: How does the speaker refer to the mother in the photograph?

A5: The speaker refers to the mother as “the big girl,” indicating that she was older than her two cousins at the time.

Q6: What does the photograph evoke/produce for the speaker?

A6: The photograph evokes memories of a past time, showing a moment when the speaker’s mother and her cousins were young and carefree, enjoying a day at the beach.

Q7: What does the cardboard show the speaker in this extract?

A8: The cardboard showed the speaker a scene from the past when two female cousins paddled with his mother, with one cousin holding each of her hands.

Q9: How does the speaker describe his mother’s role in this scene?

A9: In this scene, the speaker’s mother is described as the “big girl,” and the speaker estimates her age to be around twelve years.

Q10: How do these lines convey a sense of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the photograph’s enduring significance?

A10: In the first stanza of ‘A Photograph,’ Shirley Toulson poignantly portrays a photograph of a cherished past moment. The speaker reflects on this image with deep nostalgia, using the photograph as a portal to a bygone era.

The image of the two girl cousins paddling, each holding one of the speaker’s mother’s hands, evokes a sense of innocence, unity, and youthful joy. The reference to the mother as “the big girl” conveys her role as the older and more responsible figure, adding depth to the narrative.

The lines capture a fleeting moment frozen in time and hint at the passage of time itself. The speaker’s mother’s appearance in the photograph predates the speaker’s birth, highlighting the photograph’s role in connecting the present with a past they did not directly experience.

The extract emphasises the enduring power of photographs to bridge generations, evoke memories, and preserve the essence of moments long gone. It embodies the idea that even as time marches, the emotions and memories captured in a photograph remain timeless, serving as a poignant link to the past.

Extract 2:

Q1: How much time has passed since the photograph was taken?

A1: Approximately twenty to thirty years have passed since the photograph was taken.

Q2: What is the mother’s reaction to looking at the old photograph years later?

A2: The mother laughs at the old photograph and comments on it, pointing out “Betty and Dolly” and how they were dressed for the beach.

Q3: Who are Betty and Dolly mentioned in the extract?

A3: Betty and Dolly are likely the names of the two girl cousins in the photograph.

Q4: What does the speaker mean by “The sea holiday was her past, mine is her laughter”?

A4: The speaker means that the seaside holiday is a memory for the mother, while the speaker’s cherished memory is the mother’s laughter and reminiscence about that photograph.

Q5: How are the mother’s and the speaker’s memories described?

A5: The mother’s and the speaker’s memories are described as “wry” and “with the laboured ease of loss,” indicating a bittersweet quality to their recollections and an underlying sense of sadness and nostalgia.

Q6: What does “laboured ease of loss” suggest about their feelings?

A6: The phrase “laboured ease of loss” suggests that their feelings are mixed with a sense of effort and heaviness due to the loss, yet there is a certain acceptance and ease in remembering those past moments despite the sorrow they bring.

Q7: How does this extract highlight the passage of time?

A7: The extract highlights the passage of time by contrasting the mother’s initial experiences of the sea holiday with her later reflections on it and how the speaker now reflects on the mother’s laughter as a memory, showing how moments evolve and take on new meanings over time.

Q8: How does the speaker’s mother react to the snapshot in this extract?

A8: The speaker’s mother laughs when looking at the snapshot and points out the girls, Betty and Dolly while commenting on how they were dressed for the beach.

Q9: What is the significance of the last two lines in this extract?

A9: The last two lines suggest that the sea holiday was a part of the mother’s past, but for the speaker, the memory of her laughter remains. Both their experiences are tinged with the bittersweet feeling of loss, and their emotions are wry and complicated by the passage of time.

Q10: How do these lines illustrate the evolving perspectives on the photograph, the nostalgia, and the intergenerational connection between the speaker and their mother?

A10: The second stanza of “A Photograph” shows how perspectives on the photo change over time, highlighting nostalgia and the bond between generations. The mother laughs at the old photo, reminiscing about her childhood, which creates a sense of fondness and humour. This laughter becomes a cherished memory for the speaker, connecting the mother’s past to the speaker’s present. 

The lines “Both wry / With the laboured ease of loss” capture the bittersweet nature of these memories, emphasising the shared experience of nostalgia and the enduring connection between generations. The photograph bridges the gap between past and present, highlighting universal human emotions.

Extract 3:

Q1: How long has it been since the speaker’s mother passed away?

A1: The speaker’s mother has been dead for nearly as many years as she lived at the time the photograph was taken.

Q2: What does the speaker imply by saying, “There is nothing to say at all”?

A2: The speaker implies that the grief and loss felt due to the mother’s death are so profound that they render words inadequate; there is nothing that can be said to express the depth of the feeling entirely.

Q3: What is the effect of the phrase “Its silence silences”?

A3: The phrase “Its silence silences” conveys grief’s overwhelming and all-encompassing nature, suggesting that the silence left by the mother’s absence is so powerful that it stifles any attempt to speak or describe the loss.

Q4: How does this extract reflect the theme of loss and grief?

A4: This extract reflects on the theme of loss and grief by highlighting the enduring impact of the mother’s death and the profound, ineffable silence it leaves behind, emphasising the difficulty in articulating such deep sorrow.

Q5: How does the speaker measure time since the mother’s death?

A5: The speaker measures the passage of time by comparing the years since the mother died to the age in the photograph, underscoring the length of time and the lasting impact of her absence.

Q6: What emotional tone is conveyed through this extract?

A6: The emotional tone is sorrow and contemplation, marked by a sense of resignation and the heavy weight of unspoken grief.

Q7: As mentioned in this extract, how long has the speaker’s mother died?

A7: In this extract, the speaker mentions that his mother has been dead for nearly as many years as that girl (the big girl in the snapshot) lived.

Q8: What does the speaker mean when he says, “Its silence silences”?

A8: When the speaker says, “Its silence silences,” he implies that the profoundness of the circumstance and the emotions it evokes are so deep that they leave him speechless. The silence itself is overwhelming.

Q9: How does this stanza convey a sense of loss, the profound effect of the mother’s absence, and the ineffable/indescribable nature of grief?

A9: The concluding lines of “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson capture the deep sense of loss and grief after the speaker’s mother’s death. The stanza notes that the mother has been dead for nearly as many years as she lived in the photo, highlighting the relentless passage of time. 

The line “And of this circumstance / There is nothing to say at all” shows that words can’t fully express the depth of grief. The final line, “Its silence silences,” conveys that the overwhelming silence of loss stifles any attempt to describe it. This emphasises the profound and ineffable nature of grief.

Extract 4:

Q1: How is the sea described in this extract?

A1: The sea is described as appearing to have changed less over time, suggesting its timeless and enduring nature.

Q2: What does the phrase “terribly transient feet” refer to?

A2: “terribly transient feet” refers to human life’s temporary and fleeting nature, contrasting with the enduring sea.

Q3: How does the sea symbolise the passage of time in this extract?

A3: The sea symbolises the passage of time by remaining relatively unchanged while human lives, represented by the “transient feet,” are temporary and continually changing.

Q4: What contrast is highlighted between the sea and the human presence in this extract?

A4: The contrast highlighted is between the permanence of the sea and the impermanence of human life, emphasising the fleeting nature of human experiences compared to the constancy of nature.

Q5: How does this extract contribute to the poem’s theme of impermanence?

A5: This extract contributes to the theme of impermanence/transience by illustrating how human lives and moments are transient, whereas the sea remains a constant, enduring force.

Q6: What profound/deep message does this extract convey about human existence?

A6: The message conveyed is that human existence is brief and fleeting, constantly changing and ultimately temporary, whereas the natural world, symbolised by the sea, persists through time.

Q7: What is the speaker’s observation about the sea in this extract?

A7: In this extract, the speaker observes that the sea appears to have changed less than other aspects of the scene, such as the people in the snapshot.

Q8: What is the significance of the phrase “terribly transient feet”?

A8: “terribly transient feet” emphasises the temporary and fleeting nature of human existence and experiences. It suggests that human lives are brief and impermanent compared to the enduring sea.

Q9: “In Shirley Toulson’s poem ‘A Photograph,’ the second stanza references the sea and its role in symbolising the passage of time and impermanence. What profound message does it convey about human existence and memories?”

A9: In the second stanza of “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the sea symbolises the passage of time and impermanence. The sea, which “appears to have changed less,” contrasts with the fleeting human lives and memories. The “terribly transient feet” in the photo highlight how brief human existence is compared to the enduring sea. 

The sea washing their feet represents time’s constant flow, erasing moments like footprints in the sand. This contrast shows that while nature endures, human life is brief. The stanza emphasises the importance of photographs in preserving fleeting memories against the relentless passage of time.

Extract 5:

A1: The three girls are standing still and smiling at the uncle with the camera.

Q2: Who is taking the photograph?

A2: The uncle is taking the photograph.

Q3: How is the speaker’s mother described in this extract?

A3: The speaker’s mother is described as having a sweet face.

Q4: What detail indicates the period of the photograph about the speaker’s life?

A4: The phrase “that was before I was born” indicates that the photograph was taken before the speaker was born.

Q5: How do these lines contribute to the nostalgic tone of the poem?

A5: The extract contributes to the nostalgic tone by capturing a joyful moment from the past, evoking a sense of longing for the innocence and happiness of that time.

Q6: What visual image is created by the phrase “smile through their hair”?

A6: The phrase “smile through their hair” creates a visual image of the girls smiling with their hair blowing in the wind or partially covering their faces, adding to the natural and carefree atmosphere of the moment.