A Consumer’s Report Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the main theme/tension of the poem?
This poem is structured as a consumer’s report of life, treating life as a product, suggesting an indifference to it on the whole. However a tension is created by the underlying ideas of emotional angst that suggest the poet may actively dislike life as opposed to just feeling indifferent
Paragraph 1? (A Consumer’s Report)
The poet starts with a very emotionless and factual account of the product ‘Life’ which seems to express overall indifference.
Quotes for paragraph 1? (A Consumer’s Report)
‘I have completed the form you sent me and understand that my answers are confidential’
‘It was not economical and I have used much more than I thought’
‘It’s difficult to think of a purpose//Also the price is much too high’
‘I have completed the form you sent me and understand that my answers are confidential’
the confidentiality emphasises that the rest of the poem is an honest expression because there is no fear of judgement etc.
this means that emotional aspects of the poem hold more weight to the reader
‘it was not economical and I have used much more than I though’
‘economical’ is an emotionless and robotic way to describe something as deep and multifaceted as existence
creates this almost unsettling outlook on life that makes it seem like a boring ‘product’ and this expresses the poet’s feelings of indifference, or perhaps lack of feelings (which is often a symptom of depression)
‘It’s difficult to think of a purpose// Also the price is much too high’
Despite the technical and economical language being maintained e.g. a focus on ‘price’, he expresses this idea that life is purposeless, relating to a theme of nihilism which suggests a more emotional angst that life lacks a purpose
Paragraph 2? (A Consumer’s Report)
As the poem progresses, the thoughts of the poet seem to become more chaotic, illustrated by the faster pace which suggests a shift to a more emotional outlook on life, contradicting the previously very robotic ‘report’
Quotes for paragraph 2? (A Consumer’s Report)
‘(Incidentally, please ask your man to stop calling me ‘the respondent’)’
‘it doesn’t keep yet it’s very difficult to get rid of’
‘enjambment and less structure’
‘(Incidentally, please ask your man to stop calling me ‘the respondent’)’
The idea that he wants to be more than just a ‘respondent’, suggesting that he wants to be more than just a person. Is he telling us that he is searching for a purpose? This is a more profound expression of emotion and desire to have a purpose
‘it doesn’t keep yet it’s very difficult to get rid of’
enjambment emphasises the deterioration of his organised thoughts as he seems to reach a state of panic and emotion
sees life as a burden/nuisance which goes further than his previous feeling of indifference
enjambment (A Consumer’s Report)
the enjambment contrasts the previously rigid and end stopped structure which shows his mental deterioration and the shift from emotional indifference to emotional angst, finding that life is not just bland but actively bad and causes pain.
Paragraph 3? (A Consumer’s Report)
Towards the end of the poem there is a melange of emotional angst but then also indifference through the idea that life is overrated, whilst also acknowledging criticisms of modern day society, making it almost a satirical outlook on life.
Quotes for paragraph 3? (A Consumer’s Report)
‘if its experts are called philosophers or market researchers or historians, we shouldn’t care’
‘personally I think it’s overdone, a small thing people are ready to behave badly about’
‘but the question of a ‘best buy’ I’d like to leave’
‘if its experts are called philosophers or market researchers or historians, we shouldn’t care’
‘market researchers’ –> a nod to capitalist/consumerist society and his outlook
this links the robotic and consumerist language which is used in the context of ‘life’ which mocks consumerist society which seems so focused on products rather than the complexity of actual existence
‘personally I think it’s overdone, a small thing people are ready to behave badly about’
‘personally’ separates him from others, he’s much more cynical
‘behave badly about’ –> takes an ethical outlook looking at the way people justify bad actions and life only causes pain
‘but the question of a ‘best buy’ I’d like to leave’
he is unwilling to accept that it was worth it which is a nod to the attitudes in consumerist society where people are never truly satisfied
