Originally

Summary of the poem:

• "Originally" by Carol Ann Duffy explores the emotional journey of a child and her family as they move from Scotland to England.
• The poem reflects on the loss of cultural identity, the sense of displacement, and the inevitable changes that come with growing up.
• It highlights the universal theme of the transition from childhood to adulthood, marked by a loss of innocence and a yearning for one's origins.

The inspiration for the poem:

• The poem is inspired by Carol Ann Duffy's own childhood experience of moving from Glasgow, Scotland, to England. It reflects her personal feelings of displacement and the impact of such a significant life change on her identity.

The form of the poem:

• The poem consists of three stanzas, each with eight lines, totaling 24 lines.
• The regular structure helps divide the poem into chronological stages, from the initial move to England to the speaker's reflections on identity.
• The lack of a regular rhyme scheme and rhythm reflects the poet's emotional turmoil and uncertainty during the transition.

Summary of each stanza

Stanza 1: The family leaves Scotland with mixed emotions as they embark on a train journey symbolized as a "red room," leaving behind their city. The speaker's brothers are upset, the mother remains optimistic, singing, while the father's whereabouts are uncertain. The speaker grapples with silent anxiety, gazing at a toy.

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Poetry

Stanza Analysis

Stanza 2: The speaker declares that childhood is akin to emigration, highlighting the universal experience of change during the transition to adulthood. This transformation can be gradual or sudden, affecting one's accent and surroundings. The speaker recalls feeling lost and out of place in new suburban areas, where unfamiliar behavior and language confuse her.

Stanza 3: In this stanza, the speaker reflects on the inevitability of change and adaptation in life. Childhood memories tend to become hazy or altered over time. The speaker's brother appears to adapt successfully to the new environment, while she still maintains a connection to her Scottish roots. She questions whether she has truly lost her cultural identity, voice, and sense of belonging. The final line underscores her enduring uncertainty about her origins when asked about her home country.

Themes:

Loss of Cultural Identity:

• Quote: "Do I only think / I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space / and the right place?"
• Point of Development: The speaker reflects on how the move has led to a loss of her Scottish cultural identity, including her accent and connection to her homeland.

Transition from Childhood to Adulthood:

• Quote: "All childhood is an emigration."
• Point of Development: The poem explores the idea that childhood itself is a journey marked by change and transition, symbolizing the universal experience of growing up and leaving behind the innocence of youth.

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Poetry

Images:

The Red Car:

• Quote: "a red room / which fell through the fields."
• Point of Development: The image of the red car symbolizes the journey from Scotland to England and the emotional turbulence experienced by the family during the move.

Swallowing a Slug:

• Quote: "you see your brother swallow a slug,"
• Point of Development: This image represents the speaker's sense of alienation and her brother's adaptation to the new environment, highlighting the contrast in their experiences.

Style techniques:

Repetition

• Quote: "Originally?"
• Point of Development: The repetition of "Originally?" emphasizes the speaker's ongoing uncertainty about her true origins and identity, reinforcing the theme of displacement.

Language techniques :

Assonance:

• Quote: "Do I only think / I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space / and the right place?"
• Point of Development: Assonance, through the repetition of vowel sounds, creates a musical quality in the language and emphasises the speaker's contemplation of what has been lost, including cultural elements and a sense of belonging.

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Poetry

Simile:

• Quote: "anxiety that stirred like a loose tooth."
• Point of Development: The simile comparing anxiety to a loose tooth conveys the speaker's inner turmoil and unease, providing a vivid sensory image.

Personal Reflection:

1. How does the use of repetition, specifically the question "Originally?" in the poem, reflect the theme of identity and displacement?

2. Explore the simile "anxiety that stirred like a loose tooth." How does this simile contribute to the reader's understanding of the speaker's emotional state?

3. How does the idea that "all childhood is an emigration" in the second stanza make you reflect on your own experiences of growing up and leaving behind the innocence of youth?