Poems of the Decade: A Minor Role Summary Notes (A*)
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Course
Unit 3 - Poetry
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
This document covers the poem: 'A Minor Role' from the Poems of the Decade Poetry. I studied this poem for my A Level, Edexcel English Literature Exam as part of the poetry module. By constructing these summarises and notes these provided me with ideas and themes which I could for my essays and the...
• Could relate to that of a theatre
• Minor role in society, and in life
• Insignificance of the persona
Structure:
• Irregular line length and stanza structure
• Structure initially appears uniform, but strange and unique forms are made in the poem as it
goes on. Reader interprets this as showing the irregularity of life and how parts of life can
change can quite suddenly and unexpectedly. Impact of the rhythm as a result of these
structural changes is noticeable to emphasises the idea of unexpected changes. Alternatively,
structure relates to a play or drama which has different elements to a plot and different paces of
action.
• Lack of Rhyme Scheme. Highlights the uncertainty that the persona faces in life which is echoed
by the irregular line lengths. Strange and unmelodic poem for a reflection on thought and
process. Unpleasant and rigid structure
• Caesura in the poem, semi colons in the second stanza. Links with irregular structure to show
pauses and interruptions in life to indicate how people’s actions and thoughts may not be as
‘free’ as initially anticipated. Breaks to flow in the poem through use of brackets to insert
additional snippets of information to highlight the complexity of life. Readers may be even
finding the variety of pace and structure overwhelming due to constant changes. Effective
outcome for the poem and makes it memorable and encourages a reader to develop empathy
for the narrator.
• Practicing ‘o’ makes it Shakespearean with the caesuras highlighting the frequent interruptions
and changes in life. Theatrical semantic could relate to Shakespeare ‘as you like it’ in which
Jacques says ‘all the world is a stage’. Performance of live is one everyone is involved in
• Bracketed ‘Bed Solves a lot’ and ‘mysteriously reassuring’ represents that the persona finds
comfort in beds and pets. Yet, by doing this Fanthrope beings to light mental health awareness.
By having internal dialogue which could represent the lines said in a play represents the
monotony of life, yet the joy that needs to be found
• Semantic field of the hospital reaffirms the idea of physical and mental disorders that need to be
looked after. Idea of the need to care for someone and the compassion that is important to be
represented towards others in society.
• Contrast in semantic fields. Medical terms through ‘formula’, ‘consultant’, ‘illness’ and ‘dosages’
to continue the idea that the narrator is suffering from a form of illness. A semantic field of the
stage and drama, ‘roles and ‘stage’ which are directly associated to medical descriptions and
alludes to the ‘minor role’.
• Single final line of poem is striking as it draws the reader's attention when poem is first viewed.
The separation from the rest of the poem draws readers attention to it before that started to
, read the rest of the poem which is highly effective at making a reader consider the rest of the
poem with a deeper meaning. Ending the poem on this line remains in the readers' mind.
Language:
• The poem begins with ‘I’m best observed on stage’ which creates a first-person narrative and
amplifies the perspective of the fake and deluded society surrounding the poem. The dynamic
verb ‘observed’ immediately draws up imagery of the stage for the reader. Yet this becomes a
metaphor for the façade of the persona. She uses her performance either to express her
emotions or to conceal how she is really feeling
• Represents the idea of the minor role in ‘propping a spear, or making endless/ exits and
entrances with my servant’s patter’. However, there is equally the suggestion that there is a
worth to this party as she provides more of story to the play. Although equally the lexis ‘endless’
could represent the personas believed insignificance in her role in the play
• Monotonous tone created in ‘yes, sir. O no, sir’. The idea becoming a metaphor for society in the
quick paced responses we have. Inability to connect and have a full-length conversation
• ‘If I get/ these midget moments wrong, the monstrous fabric. Shrinks to unwanted snigger’. The
lack of empathy towards human error. Creates a claustrophobic and alienating atmosphere in
the dynamic verb ‘sniggers’. The adjective ‘monstrous’ suggests the façade that she play while
on stage blends with her personal emotions in the horror and embarrassment. Criticised for
getting her minor role right rather than treated as a human who makes mistakes
• The use of ‘my heart’s in the unobtrusive’, with ‘unobtrusive’ becoming noticeable as a result of
it being four syllables long, which can be interpreted as a link to the idea of a ‘heart’ with the
beat and rhythm of the word. Readers interpret this like as considering the potential
insignificance of life, but also the way in which health and emotion are directly linked
• ‘Checking dosages’ amplifies drugs and the harsh and cruel reality which the poet lives,
becoming a parallel with ‘background music of civility’ emphasising the communication between
people which is forced and harmful. Equally idea of the drugs that needed in order to both
survive and cope in the fast paced and tremulous society
• Fanthorpe highlights the importance of communication by bring to life the play of a hospital.
The suggestion that the persona is attempting to ‘sustaining the background music of civility’
suggests the forced and abrupt communication that is received within society. Yet, the adjective
of ‘civility’ suggests the constant pressure to conform to societal expectation. Perhaps in this
respect the persona questions this in light of the increasing mental health issues that are rising
within society
• Fanthrope strikes a change in scene to the persona life in ‘At home in the street’. However, this
becomes ironic as the persona is not ‘at home’ or comfortable in the streets. While the concrete
noun ‘home’ symbolises comfort and safety, it is suggested that this what the persona is seeking
but unable to find. Highlights the cold and cruel nature of society.
• ‘You may see me’. Change of perspective from first person to second person in the personal
pronoun ‘you’. Creates a collective. The persona could be anyone of the street but brings to light
the idea that you do not know what people are dealing with behind the façade. Equally the
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