STRUCTURE OF THE POEM
‘The Telephone Call’ by Fleur Adcock is a six-stanza, free verse poem, where each stanza consists of eight lines. The structure of the poem plays an important role in conveying the emotional shifts that occur during the telephone conversation. The poem’s free verse form—meaning it does not adhere to a regular rhyme or meter— allows for a natural, unrestrained dialogue between the poet and the lottery company. This lack of structured 50 rhythm and rhyme mirror the spontaneous nature of the conversation, making it feel more authentic and unscripted. In addition to its free verse structure, the poem avoids a fixed meter. Instead, it uses a mix of iambic and trochaic feet. This creates a rhythmic flow that is not uniform, which is reflective of the emotional ups and downs the poet experiences during the conversation. The rhythm in the poem rises and falls in a way that mirrors the changes in the speaker’s emotional state—starting with excitement, shifting to doubt, and ultimately ending in disillusionment. The internal rhythm of the poem helps illustrate these mental transitions and adds to the overall tone of unpredictability.
POETIC DEVICES IN THE POEM
1.Interrogation
The poem features several questions that the speaker asks, which help convey the sense of confusion and doubt. These questions create a sense of back-and-forth between the poet and the lottery company, emphasizing the growing uncertainty in the speaker’s mind.
2. Enjambment
The poet uses enjambment, a technique where sentences or phrases flow from one line to the next without a pause. This mirrors the rapid pace of the conversation, making the reader feel the continuous nature of the phone call. It also helps to create a sense of momentum and urgency, mimicking the flow of thoughts in the speaker’s mind.
3. Irony and Sarcasm
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of irony and sarcasm. For example, the line “Or, actually, with more than a million –” is sarcastic, as the speaker mocks the exaggerated promises made by the lottery company. The irony becomes evident as the speaker slowly realizes that the call is not genuine. This creates a sense of humor in the poem while also highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
4. Ellipsis
The poet uses ellipses (…) in three instances throughout the poem. This literary device serves to create pauses, suggesting uncertainty or an unfinished thought. It mimics the way the conversation lingers, with moments of hesitation as the speaker processes what is being said.
5. Metaphor
In the second stanza, the poet uses the metaphor “top of my head.” This expression suggests that the speaker is thinking quickly or improvising a response, possibly indicating the suddenness or shock of the phone call. The metaphor highlights the speaker’s state of mind and the abrupt nature of the conversation.
6. Simile
The last line of the poem contains a simile, which compares the experience to a “reward or prize.” This simile adds to the ironic tone of the poem, as the supposed “reward” turns out to be a deceptive, unfulfilling experience.
7. Personification
The poet personifies the lottery company in the lines “We buy up the files, / feed the names into our computer.” By giving the company human qualities, the poet highlights the mechanized, impersonal nature of such scams, suggesting that the company is treating the speaker like a mere name on a list rather than a real person.
8. Synecdoche
In the final stanza, the poet uses synecdoche, a literary device where a part is used to represent the whole. In the last line, the phrase “the line went dead” uses “the line” as a stand-in for the entire phone conversation. This symbolizes the abrupt end to the interaction and the realization that the whole conversation was a waste of time.
MOOD/TONE
The mood of the poem shifts from excitement and disbelief to confusion and, ultimately, disappointment. At start, the speaker is filled with incredulity, overwhelmed by supposed news of winning a life-changing prize. However, as the conversation continues, the mood becomes increasingly uneasy and surreal. The tone of the poem is ironic and playful, with Adcock using humour to explore the absurdity of the situation. The lottery company’s casual indifference and the unexpected twist at the end shift the tone towards something more cynical, revealing the hollowness of the promise.
LANGUAGE AND DICTION
The Language in the poem is conversational and informal, mimicking the natural speech one might use during an actual phone call. The lottery representative speak in a casual and even flippant manner, which contrasts with the speaker’s rising emotions of disbelief and confusion. Phrases like “Ultra-super Global Special” are exaggerated and grandiose, adding a layer of absurdity. The use of colloquial expressions such as, “Hang on”! or “I’ll believe it when I see the cheque” makes the dialogue relatable and emphasizes the speaker’s growing skepticism. Adcock’s diction is accessible and straightforward, reflecting the ordinariness of the situation, while also using hyperbole and irony to hint at something far more bizarre.
CREDIT TO H.K OCRAN/ LiTTROVE