The Black Lace Fan my Mother Gave Me: Structure & Language Techniques

Structure

Four Stanzas: The poem consists of four equally structured stanzas, a reflection of the unfolding of different stages in time: the introduction and anticipation, the climax, the slowly waning passion, and finally, the echo of the past in the present.
Chronological Progression: Boland engages in a ‘rewind’ of the object (the fan) through time, narrating its story in a reversed chronological order. This provides a snapshot into history and the series of events that took place.
Free Verse Form: The lack of a conventional rhythmic pattern demonstrates the unpredictable, often chaotic nature of human relationships and our interactions with time.

Language Techniques

Imagery: Boland uses vivid imagery to enhance the richness of the tale, as in “a tree of smoke,” offering the reader a sensory, tangible experience.
Metaphor: The titular black lace fan is a metaphor for the mother’s past, her passion, and also the feminine associations of mystery and depth.
Repetition: “The black lace fan my mother gave me” is repeated at the start of each stanza, acting as a refrain and contributing to the melancholic atmosphere. It also reinforces the sentimental significance of the fan.
Apostrophe: A technique where an inanimate object, an absent person, or an abstract notion is addressed directly. Examples include “so fine,” and “so wide.” This drives emotional responses.
Personification: The fan “drinks and thrills,” personifying it and highlighting its role as an active participant in, and witness to, history.
Alliteration: “summer storm” and other instances contribute to the musical aesthetic of the poem, merging the auditory and visual experiences.
Enjambment: This technique is used throughout to sustain the continuity of thought, particularly as the narrative jumps from one period in history to another.

Symbols

The Black Lace Fan: symbolises mystery, femininity, passion, and a bridge between different times.
The summer storm: represents the passion of the love affair that is intense but fleeting.
Smoke: symbolises the fleeting nature of passion and illustrates the transient nature of life.
The night sky: represents the endless possibilities that revolve around every love story.

Remember, in your OCR English Language and Literature A Level, understanding these elements can equip you with the tools necessary for detailed textual analysis. Go ahead to explore and interpret different layers of meaning Boland offers in “The Black Lace Fan my Mother Gave Me”.