Originally: Form and Structure

Overview of “Originally: Form and Structure”

• Originally is structured as a three-stanza poem, reflecting the progression of the speaker’s journey from childhood to maturity.

• Each stanza encapsulates a different stage of this journey: the initial move, the ensuing confusion, and the eventual adaptation. The structure thus follows the narrative arc.

• The poem utilises free verse, eschewing traditional rhyme schemes and meters. This allows Duffy to convey the emotional turmoil and disorder experienced due to the sudden change.

• The line lengths vary dramatically, mimicking the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the speaker’s experience.

• Rich in imagery, the poem uses evocative visual descriptions to portray the emotional disposition of the speaker and the changing locales of the narrative.

Analysis of Form and Structure in “Originally”

• The shifting from past to present tense reinforces the poem’s theme of change and transition.

• The poem’s lack of a consistent rhyme scheme mirrors the speaker’s feelings of confusion and disorientation following their move.

• The variable rhythm reflects the emotional turbulence of the speaker’s journey, from the disorienting rush of the initial move to the hesitant, halting rhythm of uncertainty and loss.

• The repetition of certain phrases like “All childhood is emigration”, signals the universality of the speaker’s experience and emphasises the theme of transition.

• The use of enjambment, where sentences continue over the ends of lines or even stanzas, contributes to the flow of the narrative and creates a sense of forward momentum.

• The final two lines revert to monosyllabic words, reflecting the speaker’s struggle with their newly adopted language and the lingering feelings of alienation.

Duffy’s command of form and structure in Originally skilfully reflects the tumultuous process of transition and the tumultuous journey from childhood to maturity, emphasising themes of change, identity, and adaptation.