Question

“In My Mother’s House” by Gloria G. Murray every wall stood at attention even the air knew when to hold its breath the polished floors looked up defying heel marks the plastic slipcovers crinkled in discomfort in my mother’s house the window shades flapped against the glare of the world the laughter crawled like roaches back into the cracks even the humans sat— cardboard cut-outs around the formica kitchen table and with silver knives sliced and swallowed their words Source: Murray, Gloria G. “In My Mother’s House.” Poet Lore 99.1 (2005). Poetry Foundation. Web. 18 July 2011. Identify the subject and mood of the poem. Discuss how the poet’s use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism contribute to the reader’s understanding.

Answer 1

The subject matter is in the poem's title. Their is a resentful mood although it's not plainly stated that the author resented her mother. Her mother's house represents the attitude of her mother; the walls stood at attention, the air knew to hold its breath, the polished floor defied heel marks... The personification is plain in these opening observations and, given the subject matter, it seems plain that these are reflections of the author's mother. It would seem that her mother is very commanding, superior, serious. Two lines I think are very telling: 
"crinkled in discomfort in my mother's house" 
It's not been named a childhood home, rather she's in (imagine italics) Her Mother's House