Introduction to "Material" by Ros Barber

Welcome to your study guide for "Material" by Ros Barber. This poem is a beautiful and slightly heartbreaking look at how the world changes between generations. It uses a simple, everyday object—the handkerchief—to explore deep themes like motherhood, nostalgia, and the "disposable" nature of modern life.

In your Edexcel exam (Component 3, Section A), you will be asked to compare this poem with an unseen modern poem. These notes will help you understand the "mechanics" of Barber’s poem so you can compare it to anything the exam board throws at you!

What is "Material" About?

At its heart, the poem is a lament (an expression of grief or regret) for a lost era. The speaker remembers her mother, who always carried a "proper" lace or cotton handkerchief. She contrasts this with her own life as a modern mother, where she uses disposable paper tissues and feels she doesn't quite live up to her mother’s standards of care and tradition.

The Core Contrast

Barber uses two different types of "material" to show the difference between the past and the present:

  • The Handkerchief: Represents the past, permanence, durability, and a mother’s constant readiness to care for her family. It was something you kept, washed, and ironed.
  • The Tissue: Represents the present, disposability, and a "faster" way of living. Tissues are used once and thrown away, which the speaker feels reflects a loss of depth in modern relationships.

Key Themes and Ideas

1. Nostalgia and Memory

The speaker looks back at her childhood with a mix of fondness and sadness. She remembers the specific details of her mother’s handkerchiefs—the "vague embroidery" and the "dried-up corners." These objects act as anchors for memory.
Memory Aid: Think of the handkerchief as a "time machine" that takes the speaker back to her mother’s kitchen.

2. Motherhood and Guilt

The speaker feels a sense of inadequacy. She feels she is a "tissued" mother rather than a "handkerchief" mother. She worries that by using disposable things, she isn't providing the same solid, "material" foundation for her own children that her mother provided for her.

3. The Changing World

The poem highlights how society has moved from community and craft (hand-stitched lace, local shops) to consumerism (supermarkets, plastic, disposability). The "mechanised" world has replaced the "handmade" one.

Analyzing Language and Imagery (AO2)

To get top marks, you need to look at how Barber uses words to shape meaning. Here are some key techniques:

The Symbolism of the Handkerchief: It isn't just fabric; it’s a tool for everything. It wipes "snot," "congealed" blood, and "smudge[s] of fruit." This shows that the mother’s love was practical and messy, not just decorative.

Personification: Barber describes the handkerchiefs as "dead" or "abandoned." This gives the objects a sense of life and soul, making their disappearance feel like a literal death of a tradition.

Vivid Verbs and Adjectives:
- Words like "scrubbed," "ironed," and "stiffened" suggest the hard work and discipline of the mother’s generation.
- In contrast, modern life is described with words like "disposable," "shuttered," and "soft," which sound weaker or less permanent.

Colloquial Language: Phrases like "hankies" and "step-together, step-together" give the poem a conversational, personal feel. It feels like the speaker is talking directly to us, sharing a private family secret.

Structure and Form (AO2)

The way a poem is built on the page is just as important as the words!

Stanza Structure: The poem is mostly written in eight-line stanzas (octaves). This regular structure mimics the "ordered" world of the mother, where everything had its place and chores were done on a schedule.
Note: Watch out for the sixth stanza, which breaks this pattern. This is where the speaker’s own life and the "disruptive" modern world take over.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem uses an ABCBDEFE rhyme scheme, but it’s often half-rhyme (words that sound similar but don't perfectly match, like "cloth" and "mouth"). This suggests that while the speaker tries to maintain the "order" of the past, things are slightly out of alignment in the modern world.

The Final Stanza: The poem ends with a shift. The mother’s "voice" seems to speak to the daughter, telling her to "build your own" material. This is a moment of acceptance—the speaker realizes she cannot be her mother, but she can still be a good mother in her own way.

Comparison Tips (AO4)

In Section A, you must compare "Material" to an unseen poem. Here are common "links" you might use:

  • Childhood/Parents: If the unseen poem is about a parent, compare how Barber uses objects to represent her mother vs. how the other poet does it.
  • Loss/Change: Compare the tone. Is the unseen poem angry about change, or is it accepting like the end of "Material"?
  • Past vs. Present: Look for how both poems use sensory details (smell, touch, sight) to bring the past to life.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring the Title: Don't forget that "Material" has a double meaning. It refers to the physical fabric (cloth) but also to what is material (important/relevant) in life. It also hints at "maternal" (motherly).

2. Being Too Negative: Don't assume the speaker hates her mother or hates her own life. The poem is more complex—it’s about ambivalence (having mixed feelings).

3. Forgetting the Shift: Many students focus only on the mother. Make sure you discuss the end of the poem where the speaker talks about her own children and her own role as a parent.

Quick Review: Key Takeaways

- Central Symbol: The transition from the cotton handkerchief to the paper tissue.
- Themes: Nostalgia, the passing of time, parental expectations, and modern consumerism.
- Tone: Starts nostalgic and slightly humorous; ends with a poignant sense of acceptance.
- Structural Point: The breakdown of the regular stanza pattern reflects the breakdown of old traditions.

Don't worry if the comparison part seems tricky at first! The best way to practice is to look at another poem from the "Poems of the Decade" set, like "Effects" by Alan Jenkins, which also deals with memories of a parent, and see how they differ.