Material - Poem analysis

Question 1

Who the wrote the poem?

Answer 1

Ros Barber

Question 2

What does the poem explore?

Answer 2

It considers the transition between childhood nd adulthood, and the narrator’s nostalgia for a less consumer-driven world though the description of a traditional handkerchief.

Question 3

Who as Ros Barber?

Answer 3

Barber was born in America but raised in England, and is an internationally renowned scholar of Christopher Marlowe who some believe including Barber to be the true writer of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ and this poem.

Question 4

Analyse the title. (Material)

Answer 4

• The title of the poem helps to immediately give a reader an indication of what the poem is about, although at the same time it remains relatively ambiguous due to the large amount of possibilities for what might be explored in reference to ‘Material’.
• It is also interesting to note how the title links directly to the end of the poem, helping to make the poem come together as one and act as a key reminder of the poem’s message.
• The four syllables of ‘Material’ also help to lengthen the title in speech because it could be seen as symbolic of the deeper ideas presented in the poem.

Question 5

Analyse the structure. (Enjambment)

Answer 5

There are regular verses throughout the poem with the exception of the sixth stanza, which breaks from the typical eight line rule of the poem to have nine lines, and is also the only example of enjambment across stanzas. This slightly disrupts the flow of the poem, and therefore makes it more noticeable to a reader and marks the tonal shift of the poem, as from this point onwards it has the feeling of sadness-tinged nostalgia due to the changes in attitude which have occurred throughout society.

Question 6

Analyse the structure. (end-stopped lines)

Answer 6

Each stanza (with the exception of the fifth) ends with an end-stopped line, which can be interpreted as representing the traditional structure of society and the world in times gone by, with the one break in this pattern representing a transition. In addition, all of the first lines of the three final stanzas are only one line, with the lengthened pause creating a tone of consideration and reflection which is not as apparent earlier on in the poem.

Question 7

Analyse the structure. (visual form)

Answer 7

Barber also makes use of the visual form of the poem with italic phrases to show names or phrases said by others, helping to add further emphasis to them. This is very effective for the final two lines of the poem, because it helps to act as a visual reference for a reader in order to remember the message of the poem more successfully, with the reference to “daughter” making the poem end on a very sentimental note. Another poem within the anthology which uses a similar technique is ‘A Minor Role’.

Question 8

Analyse the poetic techniques. (symbolism)

Answer 8

One of the more obvious poetic devices used in ‘Material’ is the symbolism of the handkerchief. While it can be interpreted literally, it can also be understood to represent many ideas and features of a past time in the poet’s childhood with their mother. The use of symbolism means that readers can associate their own experiences and ideas with the poem, helping to make the technique and poem as a whole much more memorable and effective.

Question 9

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Connotations)

Answer 9

A sentimental tone is also established through the contraction of words, such as cardigan being shortened to “cardi” in the second stanza. This brings a more natural speech and rhythm to the poem, making it sound more story-like and therefore more personal. This has connotations of personalisation, family life and sentiment, once again helping to make useful long term possessions seem significant in comparison to a more materialistic world today. Similarly, there is heavy use of personal pronouns to further emphasise the personal connections and ideas.

Question 10

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Imagery)

Answer 10

Many references are very descriptive, with the imagery presented to a reader making them feel that they are almost that person and able to remember these occasions, which is very helpful in making a reader empathise with the narrator. This contributes significantly to Barber’s aim of showing how consumable the world has become, with this imagery being very helpful for those readers who may not have considered these ideas before.