A Consumer’s Report - Peter Porter Flashcards
What is the product being reviewed in the poem?
The product being reviewed is Life.
How does the speaker describe receiving life in the poem?
The speaker describes receiving life as a gift, indicating it was not a choice.
What does the speaker mean by ‘I didn’t feel much while using it’?
The speaker refers to the lack of excitement or emotional impact that life brings, suggesting it can often feel dull or uneventful.
How does the speaker describe the experience of life in terms of excitement?
The speaker expresses a desire for more excitement, saying they ‘would have liked to be more excited.’
What does the line ‘It seemed gentle on the hands’ refer to in the context of life?
This refers to the simplicity and gentleness of childhood, which fades as one grows older.
What does the phrase ‘embarrassing deposit’ symbolize in the poem?
The ‘embarrassing deposit’ symbolizes the embarrassing moments and memories accumulated throughout life.
What does the speaker mean by saying life is ‘not economical’?
The speaker is commenting on how life is not always efficient and how time can be wasted on trivial matters.
How does the speaker assess how much of life they have left?
The speaker suggests they have ‘about half left’ but admits it’s difficult to tell, referencing the uncertainty of how much time remains in life.
What do the ‘fairly large’ instructions represent?
The ‘fairly large’ instructions symbolize the complex rules and guidelines that govern life, which can be confusing.
What is implied when the speaker says
‘I don’t know which to follow
What is the significance of the speaker’s comment about life being ‘difficult to think of a purpose for’?
This suggests that many people struggle to find meaning or a clear purpose in life, highlighting life’s existential uncertainties.
What does the speaker mean by ‘the price is much too high’?
The speaker is commenting on the challenges and hardships of life, suggesting that the cost of living—both in terms of time and effort—is too steep.
How does the speaker critique the necessity of life?
The speaker questions whether life is truly necessary, sarcastically saying, ‘the world got by for thousand million years without this.’
What does the ‘different labels
sizes
What is the ‘awkward shape’ of life a metaphor for?
The ‘awkward shape’ represents the unpredictable and challenging nature of life, which doesn’t follow a smooth or simple path.
What does the description of life as ‘waterproof’ suggest?
This refers to the fact that life doesn’t easily fade away, and people cannot easily escape from it, no matter their circumstances.
What does the speaker mean when they say life is ‘difficult to get rid of’?
This implies that life, with all its complexities and burdens, is hard to escape or avoid, even when one may want to.
How does the speaker describe the trend of life getting ‘cheaper’?
The speaker comments that when life is made ‘cheaper,’ it tends to lose its value, likely referring to how society can devalue life or make it more mundane over time.
How does the poem reflect the idea that life is delivered even when one doesn’t want it?
This refers to the inevitability of life and how people are born into it without any choice, highlighting its lack of control.
What does it mean when the speaker says people ‘say they’re on the side of it’?
This suggests that people often support life or strive to preserve it, even if it means making unethical decisions or behaving badly.
How does the speaker feel about the overemphasis on life?
The speaker feels that life is ‘overdone’ and that people should take it for granted rather than constantly seeking ways to extend or improve it.
What does the speaker mean by saying we shouldn’t care about the opinions of experts on life?
The speaker argues that philosophers, market researchers, and historians’ views on life are irrelevant because individuals should live life on their own terms.
How does the speaker ultimately feel about life?
Despite the criticisms, the speaker concludes that they would ‘buy’ life, meaning they accept it and recognize its value, even with all its flaws.
What is the speaker’s final critique of life in the poem?
The speaker humorously leaves the decision of a ‘best buy’ open until they compare life to a ‘competitive product,’ suggesting that life, though flawed, is still the better option.
