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Paula Meehan Poems and quotes - Coggle Diagram
Paula Meehan Poems and quotes
The exact moment I became a poet
Structure
9 Stanzas
9 Tercets
Title
The title tells us what the poem is going to be about
Personal poem
I, my, etc
Tone
Reminiscent
Bitter
Reflective
Theme
Childhood memory
Power of words
Social justice
Role of women
Quotes
"You'll end up in the sewing factory
Dialogue
Miss Shannon is insulting her and she is trying to make sewing factory's seem bad
Miss Shannon is looking down on those who work in the factory's
It highlights the power of words "End up"
Miss Shannon's snobbery and thoughtlessness has affected Meehan and its a significant moment in Meehan's life
Miss Shannon robbed the work of Meehan's family and neighbours of its dignity
Second stanza
The teachers words dehumanise those who the poet loves and cares about
"Was in 1963 when Miss Shannon rapping the duster on the easel's peg"
Highlights the her style of sense of place
The year, teachers name and detail of "rapping the duster" add to the authenticity but also show the that this is a moment the child will never forget
First stanza
"Trussed like chickens on a conveyor belt"
Seventh stanza
Simile
She imagined that these women had been ‘trussed’, which suggests that their legs and arms were tied together, and placed on a conveyor belt
The teachers words dehumanise those who the poet loves and cares about
Those working in the sewing factory's did not have a choice like being bound by arms and feet on a "conveyor belt", they could not control they way they were going
If they had a problem they were moved along or replaced
"Words could pluck you, leave you naked, your shiny feathers all gone"
Personification
Final stanza
The shine/value is taken from those who "END UP" in the sewing factories
The poet harshness's the power of words but for a different purpose, to describe the robbery of those working in the sewing factory's dignity.
Hurtful words are compared to hands that pluck the chicken’s feathers.
Summary
It is written in response to a comment made by Meehan's teacher. The young Meehan realises for the first time that words are extremely powerful and can cause great psychological harm. Meehan talks about how the teachers remark degraded the poets working class family. Nonetheless the she recognises that the teacher was correct. The poem discusses how words can expose unpleasant realities