For Heidi With Blue Hair

Question 1

For Heidi with Blue Hair

Answer 1

Fleur Adcock
This poem is addressed as an encouragement to her young niece whose life was going through a difficult patch after the death of her mother. Thus this poem is deeply personal and has a heartfelt tone of sympathetic admiration for her niece’s struggle

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Loss
Family and relationships
Rebellion

Question 3

Notes on structure

Answer 3

It begins with Heidi’s hasty and bodged rebellious act in the opening two stanzas, but then the weak and vulnerable girl is revealed in the middle two. Finally we see the sympathy and love of those around her, who rally to help her deal with her loss and support her act of defiance.

Question 4

Tone

Answer 4

Although the poem is filled with deep, powerful emotions, this is never really reflected in the tone, as everything is seen through a lens of admiration and celebration by Adcock

Question 5

“For Heidi With Blue Hair”

Answer 5

Clear dedication to the person, demonstrates the deep personal nature of the subject

Question 6

“When you dyed your hair blue”

Answer 6

Use ‘you’ 2nd person, personal pronoun to show a familiar and intimate relationship

Question 7

“(Or at least, ultramarine for the clipped sides, with a crest of jet-black spikes on top)”

Answer 7

Speech like aside reveals the speaker is observant or the girl is very precise and deliberate in her act of rebellion
‘Crest’ admiration, the acknowledgement of small details
‘Jet Black’ very rebellious, dark and intense, so messing around,

Question 8

“Yours was,”

Answer 8

Very personal attack from the headmistress

Question 9

“Not done in the school colours”

Answer 9

Very childish argument, Adcock portrays the Headmistress as paradoxically old fashioned yet immature character, who’s reasoning is ludicrous

Question 10

The use of the colours ‘jet black’ and ‘Blue’

Answer 10

Jet Black - might be a reference to death while the short vowel sounds creating a clipped tense mood
Blue - depression and sorrow
Link between Heidi’s state of mind and her hair

Question 11

‘Clipped’ ‘Crest’

Answer 11

The alliteration of ‘clipped’ and ‘crest’ again create a harsh, abrasive sound.

Question 12

“Tears in the kitchen”

Answer 12

Creates a domestic scene

Question 13

“Freedom-loving father”

Answer 13

The father is depicted as sympathetic, caring and supportive. He is given speech emphasising his protection of her and his defence of her hair colour

Question 14

“(You wiped your eyes, also not in a school colour”

Answer 14

While many people see this as a reference to Heidi’s eye make up or colour, I believe it refers to an red puffiness as a result of crying
This joke creates a sympathetic consoling voice

Question 15

“Not even if I wanted to try”

Answer 15

Shows Heidi’s lack of repentance and determination

Question 16

Stanza 5

Answer 16

Revealed that Heidi’s mother is dead

Question 17

“Shimmered behind the arguments”

Answer 17

‘shimmered’ sounds etherial (spiritual) connotations of life after death

Question 18

“Teachers twitter”

Answer 18

Alliteration makes them sound inconsequential and weak
We are encouraged to sympathise with Heidi and criticise the teachers
“Gave in” suggests confrontation before teachers give in out of pity

Question 19

“Black friend had hers done

in grey, white and flaxen yellow”

Answer 19

In the final stanza the use of colour is very significant
It is an act of solidarity and generosity and described as a ‘witty tease’
We are encouraged to join the criticism of the petty rules and applaud the pupil’s minor rebellion

Question 20

“Done” … “Won”

Answer 20

The rhyme creates a sense of finality

While the word ‘battle’ gives the situation more weight

Question 21

“The battle was already won”

Answer 21

Heidi has ‘won and her friend’s loyalty and support is offered as some sort of solace