Eat Me Flashcards
What type of poem is Eat Me?
Dramatic monologue which examines an unhealthy relationship.
The unhealthy relationship is used to explore…
Issues of gender and power
‘i did what i was ___’
told
What phrase does the speaker repeat about her physical appearance?
‘too fat’
When the speaker becomes too dominant at the end, she _____
‘drowns’ him
Summary of the poem Eat Me
-A poem about a woman who is controlled by her boyfriend who has a food fetish
What is the structure of Eat Me?
-Repeated tercets
-ABA rhyme scheme to show the repeated constraints of the patriarchy.
Analyse ‘watch me swell like a forbidden fruit’
-Simile and religious imagery which link her to Eve as she represents sinful temptation/the potential of destruction that she is capable of
‘I was like a tidal ____ of flesh’
wVE
What device is used in ‘like a tidal wave of flesh’
natural imagery
Anaphoric repitition of…
‘Too fat’ three times showing her helplessess/criticism of the male gaze
‘The day I hit thirty nine’ she…
‘allowed him to stroke’
Analyse ‘The day i hit thirty nine’ and ‘i allowed him to stroke’
-soft volta and the verb suggests she is taking back control
‘Could i not roll over on top’ - she uses her sexual power over him to end his life
Analyse ‘rolled’ ‘drowned ‘ drowned’
Dynamic verbs used to starkly contrast with ‘did what I was told’ emphasising the control that she is taking back.
Analyse ‘his eyes bulging with greed’
-dark irony as he is taking pleasure in the speakers attempt to end his life
‘Nothing left in the house to eat.’
His strongest desire has ultimately led to his death and he is left unfullfiled.
