Text 2 - Eating Out

Text 2 – ‘Eating Out’ from Collected Poems 1978-2003, U.A.
Fanthorpe
Genre Poem
Context of Written by the poet U.A. Fanthorpe who is a 20 th Century British poet. To be
reception and read in its entirety.
production
Purpose To primarily entertain

To explore a developing yet authoritative relationship between parent and
child.
To consider the importance of the imposition of rules and regulations.
Audience People familiar with Fanthorpe’s work-quite a modern audience as written

fairly recently. People who are interested in family relationships but primarily
for adults.
Form Poem written in couplets
Structure and 8 stanzas, 7 in non-rhyming couplets, last with one line. The strict format
presentation echoes the strict nature of the father – revealing that rules should be adhered
to. The last line breaks this pattern as the narrator becomes rebellious after
the father’s death. Quite brief and disjointed – typical of Fanthorpe –
expressing some strong ides about connections within families.
Italics of last line are reflective of the mother’s words and help to create a
bitter tone. The memory is not a happy one and one that will not be repeated.
Caesura and enjambment in the third stanza create a distance between the
mother and father and how they are perceived by the narrator. The mother
being caring and giving the narrator some space. The whole poem seems to be
the journey of the child’s and father’s relationship as they grow together and
until death through references to food related outings.
Lexis (to include Abstract noun of ‘adventures’ opens the poem and is suggestive of something
any other new and exciting ahead which turns out to be the opposite.
relevant Paradox of ‘rehearsed but unknown living’ creates the idea that a child is being
methods) let loose on society after being carefully introduced to rules and norms.
Absence of pronouns makes the concepts within the poem universal and is
reflective of a list of detached instructions.
Formal references to parents ‘father’ and ‘Mother’ reinforced this detachment
although there is obviously a closer relationship with the mother in this poem
– as almost a false hero
Semantic field of food and etiquette ‘napkin’, ‘cutlery’ and ‘menu’ showing the
lessons that have been learned before being allowed to the restaurant.
Pedagogical language through verb choice-‘supervised’, ‘explained’, ‘initiated’
French references ‘moules mariniere’, ‘petit fours’ plus the italicisation
creating a great divide between child and adulthood.
Almost biblical – but certainly linked to routine ‘the ritual consumption of
lobster’
Narrator’s hatred of processes can be seen through the food metaphor ‘so
much good behaviour was indigestible’ – as if this was too rigid – too much too
soon and unnecessary. Also ‘he leaned heavy on my arm’ reveals a level of
pressure – a connection here but an overpowering one.
Colloquial language contrasts with the elevated lexis ‘cuisine’ ‘pocket them for
later’ giving a clearer insight into the workings of a child’s mind in relation to
food.
Adjectives
Proper nouns ‘London’ creates contrast with the French names suggesting the
father’s sophisticated knowledge of food and ‘Petworth’ creating a vivid
memory.
Political lexis ‘autocrat’ quite a damning reference to the mother at the end of
the poem linked with the capitalised ‘Humble’ reveals a contrast between the
female voice reflecting back and the mother’s passive nature – letting others
rule.
Attitudes and Families can have distance within them despite being connected.
Values Food can be a way of teaching or imposing rules.
Learning about food can lead to a lack of enjoyment and can become a
negative experience.
Food can be a way into understanding the make-up of a family. The impact of
daily family routine can have a wider impact on future life.
Women should choose for themselves and should be treated equally.
The ideas we have as children will often be disputed and contravened in adult
life.
 The narrator in the poem recalls being taken out to dinner as a child
 The parents instilled good behaviour and etiquette
 The father, in particular, teaches the narrator how to eat and introduces her to
new food
 The narrator skips forward to her parents’ old age – and recalls the last meal
she ate with her father before he died at which he still took control despite
being ill
 As her mother grows old, she becomes passive, which is a shock to the
narrator – in many ways the narrator has taken on the parent role.
 Captures humour, embarrassment and pathos of remembering what it was like
to eat out with family
 Narrative of poem takes us on early adventures in eating with all the
conventionality of manners having to be learned, to be more adventurous
eating out and reflections on her parents’ approaches
 Reveals subtly what she felt about her parents and their relationship
AOC08

Text 2 - Eating Out

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Text 2 - Eating Out

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Text 2 - Eating Out

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Text 2 – ‘Eating Out’ from Collected Poems 1978-2003, U.A.

Purpose To primarily entertain

Audience People familiar with Fanthorpe’s work-quite a modern audience as written

Form Poem written in couplets

You might also like