1st Date - She/ 1st Date - He

Question 1

“It wasn’t exactly a lie” (She)

Answer 1

Cope exemplifies that she is lying to impress her date, creating a sense of ambiguity as whether the reader views this as a good or bad event. The adverb “exactly” suggests that she is nervous, as she is trying to convince herself of her own actions.

Question 2

“It wasn’t entirely untrue” (He)

Answer 2

Cope explores the different perspectives of each person on the date, through mirroring the ideals of the first stanza of ‘she’; however, presenting it differently on the page, yet invoking the same reaction by the reader.

Question 3

“quite undistracted by me” (She)

“quite undistracted by me” (He)

Answer 3

Cope creates a sense of irony within the poem, through the development of the speakers and how they both arrive at the same incorrect conclusion about the other. This juxtaposition of perception and reality, is used by Cope, to suggest that love is unpredictable and often is not what is expected.

Question 4

“Or else I’ll have nothing to say”

Answer 4

Cope creates panicked and nervous tone, through the adverbial phrase “or else”, suggesting that he is running out of time. Cope uses this to present the great pressure of love and the reactions evoked by it.