The head of English has lost all passion for their profession, and this opinion is unavoidably inflicted upon the innocent children. The narrator’s sarcasm and condescending nature is obstinate until the very end of the poem
This poem revolves around a poet’s visiting the school. The class are informed of this through use of obvious sarcasm and false joy, and their reactions are immediately regulated when advised to clap, and then told ‘not too loud’. The narrator oppresses the children with instruction, as though to limit another human life pleases them. This portrays the narrator’s officious habit of engineering all that is in their power.
(Dramatic monologue)This controlling representation of the narrator is further enforced through the fact that we only see their depiction of events throughout the poem. The children’s views are almost deemed irrelevant in such a portrayal. they are unworthy of a voice
The fact that the head of English excludes the children with English as a second language portrays their ruthless need to alleviate themselves, even at the expense of others. Throughout the poem, the head of English succeeds in finding multiple opportunities to make reference to themselves. This portrays the character’s self centred personality.
The head of English undermines the presence of the poet. Absolute sarcasm in conveyed in their description of the poet to the class; ‘A real live poet with a published book. Notice the inkstained fingers girls. Perhaps we are going to witness verse hot from the press’. This creates a grand image of the poet, as though they were an icon or a celebrity- and the children genuinely believe that they are about to meet such a person.
Mockery of the poet continues throughout the poem; ‘we’re fortunate to have this person in our midst’. Boasting is also displayed through the narrator’s reference to their own poetry. . The narrator asserts their authority in challenging the poet with ‘Convince us that there’s something we don’t know’ The head of English’s attempts to demoralize the poet reflect on their own insecurity. The head of English uses ‘the muse’ lightly in their speech, as though the word is of no real significance. In doing so, they are effectively dismissing the importance of inspiration in poetry.
what has destroyed this person’s passion for their subject
The head of English’s disappointment with the fact that poems no longer all rhyme may suggest that they feel that English to them has lost its meaning over time. no longer sees English and poetry as an art, but merely a subject