Eat Me - Poem analysis

Question 1

Who is the poem by?

Answer 1

Patience Agbabi

Question 2

What does the poem explore?

Answer 2

The poem looks at the idea of a ‘feeder’ role within the a relationship, using an unusual structure of tercet stanzas and a notable semantic field.

Question 3

Who is Agbabi?

Answer 3

Agbabi is a performance poet with Nigerian ancestry, who was born in London, and fostered by a Welsh family.

Question 4

What does Agbabi’s work focus on?

Answer 4

Her work often focuses on the idea of an outsider or difference between people, which is evident in ‘Eat Me’, with key themes including Transgression and Taboo, Power and Gender.

Question 5

Analyse the title. ‘Eat Me’

Answer 5

• relatively ambiguous at first however it can still offer a variety of interpretations.
• Physical interpretation - Typically stylized in capital letters which can be seen as signifying the growth of the women throughout the poem as a result of constant feeding.
• Metaphysical interpretation - The idea that the an is mentally devouring her spirituality.
• The narrator could be seen as encouraging this behaviour with the use of “me”

Question 6

Analyse the structure. (Assonance)

Answer 6

• Rigid form - helps to represent the strict regime imposed by the feeder and how it has become common place.
• Ten tercet stanzas - ads to the overall regimented mood.
• Assonance between the final words on the first an third lines of each stanza - “cake” and “weight” with an alternative form of assonance in each line which breaks form the traditional idea of using rhyme.
• Rhyme scheme - enables a variety of languages while still maintaining a sense of conformity and expectations, potentially echoing the expectations of the feeder.

Question 7

Analyse the structure. (Consonance)

Answer 7

• The use of consonance on each corresponding line - first line of each stanza has the “k” sound, “d” on the second and “t” on the third.
• The only point that this is broken is at the end of stanza 6 but even then this is largely negated by the fact hat the next word is “too” so therefore continues the overall consonance.
• This strong sounds once again evoke ideas of force and control, showing how important this is to the poem.

Question 8

Analyse the structure. ( End-stopped lines)

Answer 8

• Consistent end-stopped lines on the final line of each stanza (although with the exception of stanza 6) which reinforce the idea of routine and consistency.
• There is a slight break in this structure as well with the final two lines of the last stanza ending in full stops - signifies the death of the man, and by extension, the relationship. This helps the reader through the way in which the expected pattern and rhythm has been disrupted.

Question 9

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Alliteration)

Answer 9

• Alliteration - “bigger the better” and “broad belly wobble” help to reaffirm the idea of obesity and being overweight even have a ‘wobbly’ nature to the sound.
• This is further emphasised through the repetition of “fat” throughout the poem, helping to ensure that this idea is never far form the reader’s thoughts, particularly in the 7th stanza.
• The forceful yet resentful tone of this stanza is particularly noticeable beacuse of the way that this pace is increased.

Question 10

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Possessive language)

Answer 10

• Possessive language - “his or further objectification through the likening to objects such as “his jacuzzi”.
• This would hep to make the descriptions much more emotive for the reader who would recognise the strong objectification and mistreatment, therefore developing much more sympathy for the narrator.
• This in turn creates a strange mix of emotions by the end of the poem with the murder of the feeder, with readers potentially feeling happy that the women has been freed but conflicted over the means of this escape.

Question 11

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Semantic field)

Answer 11

• Ideas and imagery regarding water and oceans are also common - semantic field including examples such as “shipwreck”, “beached whale” and “tidal wave of flesh”
• This is a very effective technique because it connects the idea of fat an cellulite with ocean and wave, and through their association with expanse and depth helps to show how overweight the woman has become.
• It also can be interpreted as representing a ‘hidden’ power which the women has, and isn’t appreciated by the man until he is “drowned” at the end of the poem.