Originally: Stanza Three

“Originally: Stanza Three” - Memory and Identity

Exploration of Memory

• The shift from past to present tense in stanza three indicates a transition from the speaker’s childhood to her present self.

• In phrases like “Do I only think”, Duffy introduces the theme of erratic memory, hinting at a lack of absolute certainty about her memories.

• The interrogation, “What is my name?”, suggests the speaker’s awareness of identity fragility from her experiences and the fluctuating memory of her origin.

Change in Perception

• “Red Room” might possibly be a reflection of her resentment and anger towards the change she had to go through as a child.

• A dichotomy between sensory perceptions of childhood and adulthood is portrayed: “A skelf of shame” describing a residual, persisting embarrassment from her initial inability to adapt.

• The fall of “others” points at the changes around her as a child growing up, changing home, friends, and environment.

Identity Formation

• Verbs like “fell”, “skelf”, “others”, “missing” and “forget” in the third stanza construct the idea of an identity in flux, further emphasising the theme of adapting to changes.

• The speaker questions her original identity and struggles to reconcile that with her adapted identity, depicting a common dilemma faced by individuals transferring between cultures.

• On remarking “I hesitate here”, Carol Ann Duffy is exploring the confusion and hesitation many face when identifying with multiple cultures and languages.

Examining stanza three in “Originally” can provide insight into Carol Ann Duffy’s portrayal of both personal and universal experiences of moving and change. When writing responses on this topic, remember to link these points with specific lines from the stanza to provide a deep analysis.