In Mrs Tilscher's Class: Stanza One

Overview of “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class: Stanza One”

• “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class” is a poem by Carol Ann Duffy which presents a child’s experience of school.
• The first stanza sets the scene in Mrs Tilscher’s classroom, vividly capturing the atmosphere of a primary school environment.
• The stanza primarily deals with the joy of learning and the sensory stimulation experienced at school.

Main Features of “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class: Stanza One”

• Described in third-person perspective unlike most of Duffy’s other works, this stanza offers a somewhat objective viewpoint of the classroom atmosphere.
• The stanza is rich in sensory imagery, painting a vivid picture of what it’s like to be in Mrs Tilscher’s class.
• The theme of childhood innocence pervades this stanza, reflected in the enjoyment of learning and the joyful experiences in the classroom.

Analysis of Language and Imagery in “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class: Stanza One”

• Duffy uses vibrant sensory imagery throughout: mints, coloured shapes, and xylophones are just some of the concrete, tactile images Duffy uses to immerse the reader in the classroom setting.
• Alliteration is utilised notably in the phrase “chalky Pythagoras’ theorem”. This helps to create a rhythmic quality, evoking the sing-song cadence often associated with primary school.
• There is a great deal of personification in this stanza, such as “A skittle of milk” which brings life to inanimate objects, reinforcing the child’s enchantment with the world.
• The sensory experiences in the stanza, like the “scent of a pencil slowly, carefully, shaved”, highlight the child’s attentiveness and inquisitiveness in their learning environment.

The first stanza of “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class” effectively sets up an engaging atmosphere, characterising the classroom as a place of wonder and enjoyment. It serves as the foundation for the thematic development throughout the rest of the poem.