Dusting the phone Flashcards
Who was dusting the phone written by?
Jackie Kay
Three main themes of the poem?
Desire, time, unrequited love
The theme desire is portrayed how throughout the poem? Add a quote about how she thinks all the other people are
- The whole poem follows her idea of waiting for her ‘lovers’ phone call and voice.
“Calls from boring people”
The theme Time is portrayed how throughout the poem? Add a quote about how she feels about the future?
She obsessively watches the clock, and mentions the future. “Future is a long-gloved hand”
Two poems to use for comparison and why?
Warming her pearls (Desire)
A broken appointment (Time)
Quote 1, Stanza 1, Line 1:
“imagining the worst that could happen”
“imagining the worst that could happen” - Quote 1, Stanza 1, Line 1
Speaker is overthinking, imaging disastrous situations, making excuses for their lover not calling.
Quote 2, Stanza 1, Line 2:
“that being in love”
“that being in love” - Quote 2, Stanza 1, Line 2:
Love is ruling all of her thoughts
Overview of Stanza 1:
She is upset, and overthinks about why her lover has not called her. But she can think logically, however she is quite overruled by emotion
Quote 3, Stanza 2, Line 1&2:
“heralding some disaster. Sirens” “Sirens”
“Heralding some disaster. Sirens” “Sirens” - Quote 3, Stanza 2, Line 1&2:
Repetition of the word siren, Juxtaposition (Life/ death)
Quote 4, Stanza 2, Line 3:
“who would ring me to tell?”
“who would ring me to tell?” - Quote 4, Stanza 2, Line 3:
Rhetorical question, the relationship can also be seen as a secret. Hinting to the idea nobody loves her.
Quote 5, Stanza 3, Line 1:
“The future is a long gloved hand.”
“The future is a long gloved hand.” - Quote 5, Stanza 3, Line 1:
Metaphor for the never-ending potential future. Long gloved hand, also emphasis elegance/ romanance
Quote 6, Stanza 3, Line 2:
“A marriage. A full house. One night per week”
“A marriage. A full house. One night per week” - Quote 6, Stanza 3, Line 2:
A vivid image of the future, short sentences for emphasis on how short their stays together are.
Quote 6, Stanza 3, Line 3:
“Forget tomorrow”
“Forget tomorrow” - Quote 6, Stanza 3, Line 3:
Enjambment, always waiting. Living in the moment
Quote 7, Stanza 4, Line 2:
“I assault the postman”
“I assault the postman” - Quote 7, Stanza 4, Line 2:
She makes fun of her own desperation
Quote 8, Stanza 5, Line 2:
“Silver service. I polish it. I dress for it.”
“Silver service. I polish it. I dress for it.” - Quote 8, Stanza 5, Line 2:
Personifies the Phone, as she is a servant ‘ waiting for a phone call”
Quote 9, Stanza 6, Line 3:
“Your voice
disappears into my lonely cotton sheets.”
“Your voice
disappears into my lonely cotton sheets.” - Quote 9, Stanza 6, Line 3:
Metaphor for her bed representing isolation
Quote 10, Stanza 7, Line 1:
“I am trapped in it.”
“I am trapped in it.” - Quote 10, Stanza 7, Line 1
Obsession, can’t escape her thoughts. Sympathy from reader.
Quote 11, Stanza 7, Line 4:
“I don’t know what.”
“I don’t know what.” - Quote 11, Stanza 7, Line 4
CODA - One line ending. Sense of helplessness and dependency on her lover.
How is the use of personal pronouns seen throughout the poem?
This poem is a confessional poem, to show the writers own suffering.
What is the poem structure?
- First person
- Present tense
- By the end of the poem they can’t form full sentences
- No rhyme schemes
- 7 stanzas
