Casehistory:Alison (head injury) By Sidney, Ryan & Susannah

Analysis of the poem • The three line stanzas mimic the stuttered speech and thoughts of the main character, Alison. • It is clear that she has a mental dysfunction and this is shown as she refers to her former self in 3rd person. • The different tenses add confusion to the poem. • The title makes the poem sound as if it is a medical record. • The title is also ironic as Alison doesn’t remember her past. • The poem compares the past to the present and explores the problems of memory. • The word ‘degas’ used in the phrase ‘degas dancers’ is in reference to a 19th century French painter whose paintings of ballet dancers showed them as slim and graceful. The poem suggests an allusion has taken place and that Alison was like this before her head injury. • An autocratic knee means that before her head injury Allison could control her physical movements.

The Subheading She looks at her photograph… • By looking at the photograph we see that Alison’s memory has been affected. • She can’t remember the person she used to be. • The title and subheading are important in the understanding of what is going on in the poem.

Stanza 1 Alison is talking about herself in this stanza – the use of 3rd person makes it clear that she is different to how she was then. ‘I would like to have known my husband’s wife, my mother’s only daughter. A bright girl she was’ The word ‘was’ makes the last line sound awkward and this is effective because we can then recognise that Alison is struggling to remember her past and her own identity.

Stanza 2 In the present Alison is described as fat, whereas in the past she was dainty and her joints did what she wanted them to. The link with ‘autocratic knee’ is that she is no longer in control of her body fully.

Stanza 3 In this stanza we see the use of a simile- which compares the way Alison was and is now: ‘Like a degas dancer’s adjusts to the airy poise, that now lugs me upstairs’ Now that Alison has put on weight, her knees find it difficult to get up the stairs.

Now do the same style analysis for the next 3 stanzas.

Finally answer some of the questions on the handout sheet