In your own words, summarise the ‘difference’ that Russell is making to the poet’s life.
The difference Russell makes to his father’s life is to give a new purpose and sense of direction. Before Russell was born the speaker felt he was simply drifting through life, but now he has a child to raise and look after.

How does the poet’s use of language create a contrast between Russell’s smile and the poet’s own ‘grin’?
Language is used to create a contrast between the child’s smile and the speakers ‘grin’ – the former is a true smile whereas the latters is forced. Paterson’s old smile is made to sound false and difficult. He calls it ‘hard-pressed’ suggesting he was once intensely cynical and had become world-weary. He was often just going through the motions of appearing happy. On the other hand, Russell’s smile is one filled with genuine joy. It is described as something that ‘dawned on him’ suggesting it was something that got bigger and wider the longer it went on. There is also this idea that it completely takes over Russell as we are told his grin “possessed him”. It is an unbreakable smile, with nothing unable to break it – “it would not fall or waver”. Russell has not encountered anything to make him unhappy yet.

The poem can be split into a sestet and an octave. Who is addressed by the poet in each section?
The sestet comes first in the poem and is addressed to an unknown listener. The octave which forms the final 8 lines of the poem is addressed directly to Russell.

Look at lines 8–9. Show how the poem’s language and/or ideas create a contrast between the poet’s life journey and the arrival of Russell.
In lines 8-9 Paterson is using an allusion to the path of life from Dante’s Inferno to get across the idea that his life now has meaning. In line 8 he talks about the “true path” being lost to him, which means that he felt his life had no definition or point to it. He was lost in some way,

Considering the poem as a whole, how does the poet’s use of language help the reader understand the impact the birth of Russell has had on his life?
The poet’s use of language is revelatory. Everything about Russell has changed the poet’s perception of life. This revelation hits the day he wakes up next to Russell – “it all began” showing us that this is the beginning of something new for Paterson. He talks about finding “the true path” suggesting that now he knows the purpose of his life whereas before he was simply going through the motions of living.

Explain how the simile ‘like a river’ is extended in the language of lines 10–14. Evaluate the effectiveness of this image in conveying the point the poet is making.
This image is very effective in conveying the point that Russell is a huge natural force that has taken over his life. First of all Paterson mimics the noise of a river by having lots of ‘r’ sounds in these lines. This creates an impression of the rushing noise of a river. Paterson also talks about the smile being “poured”. The word choice here is again suggestive of a great force which is unstoppable, just like a river.

The sonnet form is typically used for love poetry. In what ways is this a love poem? How does the poet’s language show this?
The sonnet is a love poem to Paterson’s son. A lot of the word choice mirrors the style and word choice typically found in love sonnets. The poem starts off with the two characters in the poem facing each other in a bed. Which Paterson states is “like lovers”. In the middle of the poem we have a direct address to Russell, which shows Paterson proclaiming this poem is dedicated to his child – “Dear son”. Nearer the end of the poem he begins to make a wide sweeping statement, showing us that his son has forced him to think about the wider implications of love – “How fine, I thought, this waking amongst men!” Here we can read that Paterson has realised that Russell has switched him on and that his life has been given purpose whereas before he felt he was simply drifting. It also ends with a promise of love – “I kissed your mouth and pledged myself forever”, here Paterson is showing that he will always be there for his son.

How does the poet use images connected to light to create a sense of the importance of the baby in the poet’s life?
The first light imagery is in the first few lines when he talks about Russell’s smile “dawning” on him. This suggests that the smile will grow and brings light and therefore happiness with it. There is also an idea of light connected with Russell when he interrupts his father on the path of life, and acts as a guide to his father, showing him what the meaning of his life now is. We are told in very simple terms that Russell “lit it as you ran”. Really Paterson should be guiding Russell as his father, but here it is the other way round as Russell shows his father the true meaning of life.